Several key paving projects underway in Santa Barbara

Some drivers in Santa Barbara are finding smoother roads with the help of state money and big paving project.

This week large sections of Bath and Castillo streets have been paved in a very busy area of downtown.

Granite construction crews put in long hours to get the work done in one day on each street.

Those who live in the area said it was a badly needed project and they appreciated the curb improvements too.

Gene Tesner, a resident who uses a scooter said, ” yea they added all of this when they did all of this (paving) and before, there’s some you couldn’t get off of.”

A worker who was walking since parking was banned said, “the other day we had to walk a couple blocks like up to Sola and then back down to get to our place of employment. I definitely got in my thousand steps,” said Jen Griffin, a downtown employee.

The crews are still coming back to stripe the streets that have to handle cars, bikes, and pedestrians in an area of town that’s heavily populated.

The money comes through a special state transportation fund SB 1 handled through the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments. For more information go to: http://www.sbcag.org/sb1.html