Drivers Get a Double Dose of New Roundabouts in Goleta

GOLETA, Calif. (KEYT) - It rarely happens but two roundabouts are opening at the same time in Goleta.

They are on both side of Highway 217 on Hollister Ave. This area has had congestion for years. This is east of Old Town and the Goleta Community Center.

The goal was to increase traffic safety along with a smoother flow in an area that has a crowded street, multiple highway ramps and is in a close proximity to the Santa Barbara Airport and UC Santa Barbara. It can, at times, be backed up in more than one direction.

Over the weekend, some of the upgraded work was done on paving and striping. More is scheduled in the weeks ahead along with landscaping.

Ramps were closed Friday evening until Monday morning before reopening for traffic. Additional work on the ramps to upgrade changes continues.

Steve Nicholson is a resident in the area. He says, " hopefully this will help the afternoon because when this was being built up the Northbound was getting  bumper to bumper."

A regular driver in the area, Benny Navarro says he has seen confused drivers already and advises people to be patient and get used to the flow. "Once the flow  gets pumping then I think it will work better than the double lights because the double lights would cause heavy heavy traffic," he said.

The work is done as part of Goleta's Project Connect . It began in March of 2024. This involves other nearby streets including Fowler, Ekwill and Kellogg Ave.

There is also work on the San Jose Creek taking place in the same area to reduce flood dangers.

Statistics show roundabouts have a strong safety record and can reduce both injury and fatal accidents.

For more roundabout driving information go to: Federal Highway Administration.

The city says some key tips from the video are:

• Slow Down:
  • Slow down. Going slower gives you more time to make decisions.

Look around for anyone in the crosswalk and be ready to yield to them as you exit the roundabout.

Look Around:

For multi-lane roundabouts, choose the lane for where you want to go. Use the left lane to go left, right lane to go right, and either lane to go straight.

Take note of the signs and markings to help you select your lane.

Keep looking around and check the crosswalks to see if anyone is waiting to cross or already crossing. Be ready to stop to allow them to cross.

Look around for traffic already in the roundabout and be ready to yield.

Be Ready to Yield:

You must yield to traffic in ALL lanes of a roundabout.

Enter when there’s a comfortable gap.

Go slow and stay in your lane. Don’t turn left from the right lane and don’t turn right from the left lane.

Yield to large vehicles and give them space.

Follow the pavement markings to stay in the correct lane.

Additional work will continue on Project Connect with overall completion anticipated in Spring 2027.