More downtown Santa Barbara road closures allowing businesses to expand

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- Local Santa Barbara residents should prepare for new road closures on Thursday.

Santa Barbara officials will be closing more blocks and lanes to allow downtown business to expand out during the pandemic.

The additional road closures were announced last week.

Work will begin on Thursday to close the streets and lanes.

Transportation and parking manager, Rob Dayton, said the City plans to narrow two lanes of the 400 block of State Street, one block south of where the street closure currently starts, close parts of West Victoria Street and changing the 1300 block of State Street.

Dayton added that cement k-rail will be used to help protect people walking and dining in the streets due to the closures. That railing is expected to be put in place early Thursday morning.

During Tuesday's city council meeting a handful of businesses on West Victoria Street spoke during public comment urging the city to close the street in front of their business. Closing the street allows businesses to expand their footprint outside.

California Governor, Gavin Newsom, has added restrictions preventing some businesses from letting customers inside.

Newsom said having businesses outside is safe and spreads COVID-19 less than people being inside.