Santa Barbara’s Highway 101 Expansion to Enter Final Stage from April 6, Here’s What To Expect

Construction on the final segment of the Highway 101 widening project will begin April 6, 2026, marking a major milestone toward the completion of the Highway 101: Carpinteria to Santa Barbara project. 

Known as Highway 101: Santa Barbara North, this segment is the final stretch of the signature Measure A project and will complete 10.9 miles of continuous peak-period carpool lanes, helping ease congestion and modernize infrastructure for the South Coast.

The construction on the final segment represents delivering the promise made to voters, utilizing local taxpayers’ dollars to improve safety and reduce congestion, Santa Barbara Mayor Randy Rowse said in a statement. 

The Cabrillo intersection with Highway 101 will see significant improvements, with four new on- and off-ramps that will enter and exit from the slow lane. 

“I’m especially glad to see the new southbound on-ramp at Cabrillo Boulevard, making freeway access safer and simpler for everyone,” Rowse said. 

With improvements already in place between Carpinteria and Summerland, the progress now continues through Montecito, officials said. 

The Santa Barbara North project includes several major upgrades:

• A new peak-period carpool lane in each direction between Hermosillo Road and Salinas Street
• A fully reconstructed Cabrillo Boulevard Interchange with two new bridges and right-hand on- and off-ramps, including a new southbound on-ramp
• A teardrop roundabout at Cabrillo Boulevard and the Highway 101 northbound ramps to improve traffic circulation
• Permanent closure of the southbound off-ramp at Los Patos Way due to low railroad clearance
• Reconstructed freeway lanes to improve sight distance and meet current safety standards, including Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement that has a longer lifespan and a quieter surface to reduce neighborhood noise
• Upgraded storm drains and lighting, and new overhead signs.

The construction of the fully funded project is scheduled to continue through 2028, according to a construction update by the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG).  

Measure A and a local transportation sales tax made the project possible, leveraging additional funding from Senate Bill 1, along with state and federal gas taxes, SBCAG Executive Director Marjie Kirn said.

Drivers will first notice the permanent closure of the southbound off-ramp at Los Patos Way. In the following weeks, the northbound off-ramp at Cabrillo Boulevard, which exits from the left, will close. 

Drivers will be directed to use the southbound off-ramp at Cabrillo Boulevard and the northbound off-ramp at Hermosillo Road, respectively. 

Next, crews will begin strengthening the shoulder areas northbound and southbound ahead of the upcoming lane changes. 

Two lanes in each direction will be open through the day on Highway 101 to ensure access for through traffic. 

The imminent closure of the southbound off-ramp at Los Patos Way has drawn concern from community members and business owners. During a recent meeting of the SBCAG, several residents had raised questions about potential traffic impacts and accessibility once the ramp is permanently closed.