Cracks in the road...

Cracks in road cause indefinite closure of scenic California highway

By Greta Reich

Part of state Route 154, an oft-debated shortcut from US 101 on the way to or from Santa Barbara, is closed indefinitely while repairs are made to cracks in the road discovered June 21.

“At this time, there is no estimate for a re-opening or partial re-opening,”  Genelle Padilla, a Caltrans spokesperson wrote in an email to SFGATE. “Each project varies, depending on a variety of factors. The completion of the 24-hour drilling operation could be an indicator for a timeline.”

Of the 32.3 steep and winding miles of Highway 154 between Buellton and Santa Barbara’s upper State Street, about 6.5 miles are closed to the public due to the repairs, from San Antonio Creek Road to Painted Cave Road. 

“The cracks are indicative of a weakness below the highway or in the area of the slip out,” Padilla said. “The drilling of steel dowels into the rock horizontally and vertically help support the roadway and allow for weight (vehicles) to be placed on the roadway.”

The route cuts through the Santa Ynez Valley facing Los Padres National Forest north of Santa Barbara. Around 17,000 vehicles per day move through the closed area of the highway, according to Padilla. 

Travelers can still drive on Highway 154 from State Route 192, better known as Foothill Road, in Santa Barbara, and from US 101 and State Route 246, which runs from Lompoc to Solvang, but they will not be able to pass through the closed portion, according to a Caltrans news release.

“This location has been the site of an ongoing project to repair a slip-out as a result of winter storm damage,” Padilla wrote, describing the work at the edge of the paved road. “During this ongoing work, pavement/shoulder cracks were observed late last week which resulted in initial traffic control and the full closure.”

The disruption has caused some frustration among regular commuters, who are also dealing with construction on a nearby part of US 101. Reddit user PinkSwan wrote Monday, “154 is closed and 101 is one lane Southbound between Beullton and Gibralter. Took me 1 hr 40 minutes to drive that stretch yesterday afternoon, usually a 10 minute drive.”