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FAQs

  1. Why is the southbound Hwy 101, Cabrillo on-ramp closing?
    1. There are multiple reasons why that on-ramp will be closed.  Currently, 80% of the traffic that uses that on-ramp originates north of Milpas Street – meaning that they are avoiding getting on the freeway because of the Milpas bottleneck.  Since this project addresses the Milpas bottleneck, traffic will be directed to get on the freeway at Garden and Milpas (both are built to accommodate larger volumes of traffic).  The existing Cabrillo on-ramp is also not standard -- traffic enters the freeway on the left into the fast lane.  Removing this ramp will improve freeway operations.
  1. Will this project move the bottleneck south to Montecito?
    1. Unfortunately, this project doesn’t fix all of the problems on Hwy 101 in our area.  However, there are currently 4 existing conditions at Milpas (that lead to the traffic backup) that won’t exist where the new 3rd lane transitions to 2 lanes: 1 bridge, 2 on-ramps, and an off-ramp.

      There are future projects slated to widen Hwy 101 that should improve traffic circulation between Santa Barbara and the Ventura County line.  These include a project slated to begin in 2011 to widen the freeway between Mussel Shoals and Carpinteria.  Preliminary design is underway for the third phase of widening between Carpinteria and Montecito. Construction would be funded by a renewal of Measure D, Santa Barbara County's local transportation sales tax, and state and federal highway funds.
  1. Will this project result in more traffic in Montecito?
    1. One of the major goals of this project is to improve traffic flow on the freeway.  By doing this, traffic that is moving through the area is encouraged to use the freeway versus local streets. Caltrans is currently monitoring traffic and will continue to do so before, during, and after construction. Caltrans, the County, and the City of Santa Barbara will use that data to plan for future roadway improvements.

  2. How will people know my business is open during construction? 
    1. The Public Information Program for this project is extensive and includes a “business-as-usual” component to let people know how to access local streets & businesses.  This includes road signs, highway advisory radio, coordination with businesses, regular electronic updates on construction via email, 1-888-SB-ROADS hotline, www.sbroads.com website, construction fact sheets & materials, community meetings, and media updates.

  3. Why can’t you use 24hr construction to finish sooner?
    1. There are a number of factors that make this infeasible.  The proximity of the homes in the area make 24hr construction undesirable due to noise levels (and neighborhood associations were against 24hr work). The City also has limitations on when certain work can be performed due to noise restrictions.
      Additional factors include added cost, safety, and the fact that 24hr construction wouldn’t significantly reduce the project timeframe.

 


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