Highway 101 and 217 projects and resulting traffic control set to begin July 5
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. – Two separate road projects on Highway 101 and Highway 217 as well as corresponding traffic control measures are set to begin on Wednesday, Jul. 5 to replace two bridges over San Jose Creek and add new safety requirements to the roadways.
For the Highway 101 project, drivers will encounter lane closures in both the northbound and southbound lanes overnight from Jul. 5 to Jul. 6 from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
The off-ramps at Patterson Avenue and Highway 217 will be closed at that time as well.
Crews will be installing new k-rails and demolishing the bridge first built in 1946 and widened in 1989 in order to meet current design and safety requirements.
The Highway project is expected to be completed in June of 2026.
For the Highway 217 project, drivers can expect full overnight closure of the entire highway starting on Jul. 5 to Jul. 6 from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Additionally, the following detours will be in place during the closures:
- For Northbound 217 drivers, your detour will be to take Sandspit Road to Moffett Place to James Fowler Road to Fairview Avenue to U.S. Highway 101
- For Southbound 217 motorists, your detour will be the inverse. Take U. S. Highway 101 to Fairview Avenue to James Fowler Road to Moffett Place to Sandspit Road
On Friday, Jul. 7 the full closure of Highway 217 will be lifted and southbound drivers on 217 will be reduced to one lane before the Sandspit Road exit. This lane reduction will last during construction.
Two lanes will remain open for northbound drivers on Highway 217 during construction.
The current four-lane bridge was constructed in 1963 and the new $26 million project was awarded to M.C.M. Construction, Inc. of North Highlands, Ca to meet current safety requirements and flood elevations.
The Highway 217 project is expected to be fully completed in the Fall of 2027.
