Highway 101 Construction Update: Median and Pavement Work in Montecito

SBCAG staff
SBCAG staff
Press releases written by the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG)
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Timeframe:  June 14 – 27, 2026 *2-week Update 

In Santa Barbara North, crews will begin work in the median. In Santa Barbara South, crews will remove existing median pavement and finish staining the sound wall. In Montecitocrews will work on the median and bridges. As of June 13th, please be aware of new traffic patterns in these three sections. New southbound lanes and ramps opened, the southbound off-ramp at Cabrillo Blvd closed, the traffic signal on Cabrillo Blvd at the southbound off-ramp at Hot Springs Rd/Cabrillo Blvd will be removed, and there is a temporary stop sign at the intersection of Olive Mill and Spring Rds. Drivers can use the newly opened southbound off-ramp at Spring/Olive Mill Rds as the detour for the southbound off-ramp closure at Cabrillo Blvd. 

Closures (weather permitting)
Please drive safely through the corridor and remember to Slow for the Cone Zone. The speed limit is reduced to 55 mph for safety throughout the construction area.

  • Northbound Highway 101
    • Sunday, June 14, 9:00 pm – 5:00 am, 2 lanes (1 lane open): Sheffield Dr to Salinas St
    • Monday – Thursday, June 15 – 18, 8:00 pm – 5:00 am, 2 lanes (1 lane open): Sheffield Dr to Salinas St
    • Off-ramp at Cabrillo Blvd, closed until summer 2028; drivers can use the off-ramp at Hermosillo Rd 
  • Southbound Highway 101
    • Sunday, June 14, 9:00 pm – 7:00 am, 2 lanes (1 lane open): Garden St to Butterfly Ln
    • Monday – Thursday, June 15 – 18, 8:00 pm – 7:00 am, 2 lanes (1 lane open): Garden St to Butterfly Ln
    • Daytime closures:
      • Monday, June 15, 7:00 am – 3:00 pm, 1 lane (2 lanes open): Padaro Ln to Carpinteria Ave
      • Tuesday – Wednesday, June 16 – 17, 6:30 am – 3:00 pm, 1 lane (2 lanes open): Padaro Ln to Carpinteria Ave
    • Off-ramp at Cabrillo Blvd, closed until summer 2028; drivers can use the off-ramp at Spring/Olive Mill Rd as a detour (see map below), stop signs have been added at Olive Mill and Spring Rds to help traffic flow
  • Cabrillo Blvd under Hwy 101
    • Flaggers will direct traffic as needed during the day.

Please note: consecutive ramps in the same direction will not be closed at the same time (unless where noted) to allow drivers to use a ramp before or after a closure. To view timelines, detours, and maps, please visit www.SBROADS.com and select the project segment or Construction Update page. Click here to view live project cameras.

Highway 101: Santa Barbara North
The Santa Barbara North segment is located between Hermosillo Rd and Salinas St. 

  • Highway 101 and on- and off-ramps at Cabrillo Blvd
    • On June 13, the southbound off-ramp at Cabrillo Blvd closed for upcoming bridge work. Crews will remove old median vegetation, safety barriers, and signage. Crews will continue installing rebar and work on the footing for a new retaining wall.
  • Cabrillo Blvd under Hwy 101 
    • Crews will install temporary fencing and remove the old signal. Crews will install shoring for upcoming bridge construction (see photo above). 

Highway 101: Santa Barbara South
The Santa Barbara South segment is located between Olive Mill and Hermosillo Rds.

  • Highway 101
    • Sound wall between the Butterfly Ln Undercrossing and Olive Mill Rd
      • Crews will stain the sound wall.
    • Freeway lanes and southbound off-ramp at Spring/Olive Mill Rd
      • On June 13, traffic shifted onto the new lanes. The updated southbound off-ramp at Spring/Olive Mill Rds has re-opened (see photo above) with a new stop sign intersection. Crews will begin work in the median by removing old pavement.

Highway 101: Montecito
The Montecito segment is located between Sheffield Dr and Olive Mill Rd.

  • Highway 101
    • Southbound freeway lanes, bridges, and on- and off-ramps
      • Crews will grade soils in the median and remove temporary pavement and storm drainage systems. Crews will also begin median safety barrier work. 
      • On June 13, traffic shifted onto the new southbound lanes and the southbound on-ramps at Olive Mill Rd and Posilipo Ln re-opened. Please be mindful of new traffic patterns.
    • Romero and Oak Creek Bridges
      • Crews will work on  approach slabs and pour concrete in the median.

Highway 101:  Padaro
The Padaro segment is located between S Padaro/Santa Claus Ln and N Padaro Ln. Improvements are built and in use for the Padaro segment.

  • Landscaping
    • Landscaping crews will weed the meridian between Padaro Ln and Carpinteria Ave.
  • N Padaro Interchange
    • Concrete Mix Site:  By mixing concrete on-site, the project saves an estimated 463,771 truck miles, reduces water use by 400,000 gallons (concrete mixed on-site uses less water), and saves taxpayers between $10-$15 million.
    • Concrete recycling continues by the northbound Highway 101 off-ramp at N. Padaro Ln.
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Press releases written by the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG)

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15 Comments

    • How knee jerk and unintelligent is this comment. You have no idea of what “slow” means without context of the task. Remember that the restructure of 101 in this area is made incredibly more difficult by the fact that it cannot be shut down and allow the work to be done in one piece. There is no realistic alternative traffic route between Carpenteria and Santa Barbara. So things happen in stages with workers having to accommodate ongoing vehicles and obstructions. I admire their efforts. I say this after having traversed this section yesterday en route to Summerland from SB, a journey that took about 40 minutes rather than the anticipated 10. I will do my best not to voluntarily go that way again this summer.

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