Two Year Cabrillo Boulevard Bridge Replacement Project Begins

Construction on the Cabrillo Boulevard Bridge Replacement project has begun where State St. meets the waterfront, and over to Helena Avenue. Lash Construction is the contractor.

Nearby business owner Jim O’Mahoney of the Santa Barbara Surfing Museum says he and other business remain open and welcoming to visitors despite some pounding, green fencing and construction trucks.

“The town starts right there, so you come off the pier and it’s the beginning of the Funk Zone,” said O’Mahoney. “They see construction and you just walk around. You are not going to close State Street.”

There will be three phases of work, but the famous lighthouse building where Rusty’s Pizza was located is getting trimmed to widen the footprint for the project.

Rusty’s is moving a block away on State St. and should be open in 2015.

Crews have been working to remove the former restaurants patio and outside dining area as part of the improvement project. The walkway remains open for pedestrians, and a bike lane is clear nearby in the heavily traveled area for vehicles and tourists.

The city says the second stage of construction will begin in spring 2015. That involves the mountain side of Cabrillo Boulevard Bridge, with the third phase on the beach side of the street.

The project is expected to be finished in 2016.

During the work, business, parks, Stearns Wharf and the Sunday Arts show will remain open.

The replacement bridge will meet current standards, unlike the existing bridge which was built in 1913.

Funding for the $26 million dollar project was largely provided by the federal Highway Bridge Program, with a portion from the City Streets Capital Fund.

The city has project information at:

www.SantaBarbaraCA.gov/CabrilloBridge or

the project helpline at (805) 897-2637.

Nearby there are several other projects in the works, including another section of Mission Creek that is getting a bridge replacement a block away, a Children’s Museum will be built near the train station, and the Entrada de Santa Barbara hotel project is going in on Mason St.

These projects should all be done in the next two years.