Hwy 101: Linden and Casitas Pass Project Update

Source: SBRoads

New Freeway Overcrossings
Sunday through Thursday nights there will be alternating Highway 101 northbound and southbound lane closures along with ramp closures at the Highway 101 northbound off-ramp at Casitas Pass Road and southbound off and on-ramps at Casitas Pass Road between 8:00 pm and 5:00 am as needed to move equipment around Casitas Pass Road and Via Real. At least one freeway lane in each direction will remain open during work.

Linden Avenue

• Crews will pour concrete for the above-ground side supports (abutments) for the new bridge.  
• Grading for dirt embankments leading up to the new bridge area continues.
• Drainage improvements near the southeast corner of the overcrossing continue.

Casitas Pass Road

• Crews will continue forming and pouring side supports (abutments) and footings for the new overcrossing throughout the week.  The southbound Highway 101 off and on-ramps at Casitas Pass Road and the northbound Highway 101 off-ramp at Casitas Pass Road will be closed as needed from 9:00 am to 3:00 pmthroughout the week to accommodate bridge work.

Carpinteria Creek Bridges

• Crews will continue forming and pouring concrete, above-ground supports (abutments) and walls for the Via Real and Highway 101 bridges over Carpinteria Creek.  Piles will also be driven for underground side supports, and footing areas for the bridges will be excavated.
• A temporary stream diversion will be installed in Carpinteria Creek to allow for bridge construction and grading for new bridges.
• Drainage improvements continue.

Carpinteria Creek Bike Path

• The Carpinteria Creek bike path will remain closed for up to 7 months for bridge work at Via Real and Highway 101.  There is a free EasyLift shuttle during the closure that runs between San Roque Mobile Estates and Rancho Granada Mobile Home Park (on Via Real) and Carpinteria Avenue (at Eugenia Ave, Palm Ave, Albertson’s, and City Hall) between 7:30 – 9:00 am and 2:00 – 5:30 pm every half hour. The shuttle is wheelchair accessible and accommodates two bikes. The shuttle schedule will add a stop at Rancho Granada Mobile Home Park starting June 26thalong with extended hours. There will be on-site shuttle signs with more schedule information. 

Highway 101

• Sound wall work will begin along southbound Highway 101 with vegetation clearing and temporary fencing.
• Drainage improvements are ongoing in the median, shoulder areas, and along Casitas Pass Road near the construction yard.

Upcoming Work: July

Casitas Pass Road

• The southbound Highway 101 on-ramp at Casitas Pass will close for up to 2 weeks for ramp and shoulder improvements.

Linden Avenue

• The sidewalk at the corner of Linden Avenue and Ogan Road will be closed for retaining wall work.  Pedestrians can use the temporary sidewalk detour on Pacific Village Drive connecting to Linden Avenue.

Highway 101

• Crews will repair damaged concrete panels on Highway 101 northbound and southbound lanes and ramps at night.  The existing panels are degraded due to weather.
• North of Linden Avenue, behind Nipomo Drive, there will be sewer realignment work to prepare for the new sound wall.

About the Hwy 101:  Linden and Casitas Pass Project
The Hwy 101:  Linden & Casitas Pass project will improve local circulation and freeway access in Carpinteria.  The highway interchanges at Linden Avenue and Casitas Pass Road will be updated with new bridges and freeway ramps.  Via Real will be connected across Carpinteria Creek through a new roundabout up to Linden Avenue.  New bridges will be built over Carpinteria Creek on Hwy 101 and Via Real, and four new sound walls will be built to reduce freeway noise in nearby neighborhoods.  Bike and pedestrian improvements will be added along Via Real, connected along Carpinteria Creek, and on the Linden Avenue and Casitas Pass Road overcrossings.

Construction will occur from fall 2016 through 2020.  Highway 101 will have 2 lanes open in each direction and local roads will remain open during daytime construction. There will be nighttime closures as needed.  Highway 101 will have nighttime closures to allow for safety barrier placement and to prepare for bridge construction and demolition.  Linden Avenue will be closed over Hwy 101 for approximately 3 weeks in 2018.  New roads, bridges, ramps, and bikeways open in 2018, 2019, and 2020. 

This project is the third phase of widening Highway 101 between Santa Barbara and Mussel Shoals.  Eight of the 16 miles in this area have already been widened to include three lanes in each direction.

The Highway 101:  Linden and Casitas Pass Project is a $60 million construction project funded by state and federal taxes.  This project is a partnership between Caltrans, the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments, and the City of Carpinteria. 

For more information, please visit our project website at www.SBROADS.com, call us at 805.845.5112, or email the project at info@sbroads.com.