Goleta to reopen Cathedral Oaks after discovery of underground sinkholes

A part of Cathedral Oaks Road between Winchester Canyon Road and Calle Real is about to reopen after it was closed down due to safety concerns with the crib walls that hold up the road.

The road has been closed since January 30, 2017. Heavy rains caused voids or pockets to appear along the north side of the crib wall and caused a section of the wall to bulge outward slightly.

Underground sinkholes were discovered by a geotechnical consultant crew using ground-penetrating radar and electrical resistivity testing.

Additional crews assessed the soil movement and wall condition.

An excavation was performed by crews to determine whether the sinkholes had spread beneath the roadway. Fortunately, the Goleta City officials said there is no undermining of the road.

The city is seeking state and federal aid for emergency repairs since this situation was caused by the recent storms.

The City of Goleta will also be issuing a “Request for Proposals” to design the repair or replacement of the retaining wall system. Once the project gets underway, it could take two years to complete the retaining wall system repair or replacement, according to city officials.

The roadway would be closed during construction.

Cathedral Oaks Road between Winchester Canyon Road and Calle Real will reopen on Tuesday, June 6, 2017. The bike lane and shoulder will remain closed until final repairs are made.