Highway 154 remains closed due to damage to guardrails, drainage facilities

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. - Highway 154 will remain closed for the foreseeable future after critical infrastructure was damaged in the Cave Fire.

Caltrans said guardrails and drainage facilities were damaged in the vegetation fire, which scorched more than 4,000 acres earlier this week.

The damage is located primarily between San Antonio Creek Road and Painted Cave Road.

Caltrans has earmarked $1.3 million for emergency repairs to address the issue.

The roadway is closed to through traffic at San Antonio Creek Road in Santa Barbara. On the other side, the highway is closed from the Highway 246 roundabout in the Santa Ynez Valley. You can get through if you are a resident, going to Cold Spring Tavern, or have a camping reservation at Lake Cachuma.

Drivers hoping to get to Santa Ynez will need to take Highway 101 in the meantime.

There's no timeline for when the roadway will reopen, according to Caltrans.