New gas station at busy Orcutt intersection draws mixed opinions
ORCUTT, Calif. - A busy intersection with a history of accidents in Orcutt will soon have a new gas station, and construction is fully underway.
Locals are concerned about traffic safety at this Orcutt intersection with its tricky maneuverability, proximity to Lakeview Jr. High, not to mention bus stops and close access to the 101.
County records show, this intersection is known to be dangerous.
“Usually there’s an accident. About, I want to say at least once a week that I get to see. And then with this lane change of honking all day long,” says Bethel Lopez, who works at Beth’s Tamales and Tacos.
It's a double-decked intersection, with Orcutt Rd. running parallel to Orcutt Expressway (Highway 135).
“It's another vessel to the freeway. And that's what people want to do at eight in the morning is go to work,” says Ken Baker, who works at Medina’s Tire and Suspension.
During busy times of the day, locals coming to grocery shop at Spencer's Fresh Markets, or picking up a vehicle from Medina's Tire Shop, or grabbing a tamale at Beth's famous pink trailer know you have to be extra alert navigating this intersection.
“Every day there's something, you know, somebody gets in a wreck here. There's something every day for the past five or so years. It's just, you know, it's real congested,” says Baker.
Some say they're glad to see changes coming, while others feel a new gas station will only make traffic problems worse.
“It is something that we do need on this side of town, in this area. But at the same time, I don't know how it is going to be with the traffic hour and the junior high right around the corner,” says Lopez.
Reports show this intersection has one of the highest accident rates in Santa Barbara county.
“It'll have its little quirks till they work it all out. I'm sure,” says Baker.
The owner of the gas-station-to-be is local to the central coast, but says he was not out to solve traffic problems.
Locals hope to see additional safety measures added to the intersection soon, such as a secondary traffic signal.
