Six Weeks of Road Work to Affect Access Near Santa Barbara County Animal Shelter in Goleta

Road construction that is underway will limit access to the Santa Barbara Animal Shelter in Goleta for the next few weeks.

The Santa Barbara County Animal Shelter, located at 5473 Overpass Road, Goleta will be impacted for about six weeks as crews started street construction on April 27, the City of Goleta announced in a social media update.

Street parking on Overpass Road between Tierra Construction and Goleta Valley Self Storage will be unavailable while construction is underway, authorities said.

The construction will also affect access to the animal shelter’s on-site partners, ASAP Cats and BUNS, according to the County of Santa Barbara’s Executive Office.

Access to the shelter will be limited on weekdays, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, access to the shelter during weekends is expected to remain mostly unchanged.

Onsite parking at the shelter will remain open during the construction period, authorities said. Visitors will be helped by staff and volunteers, especially to those who are searching for lost pets.

Officials advised visitors to plan ahead and allow extra travel time when heading to the animal shelter.

The post on X included images of active road construction along the street.

While the officials did not share details of the road construction project, the images on X revealed that storm drain construction was underway at the road. The temporary construction notice alerted drivers that the road is a no-parking zone.

The City of Goleta’s Stormwater Division, part of the Environmental Services Division, ensures the city’s clean watersheds, thriving habitats, and clean neighborhoods.

When rain flows over the streets, it picks up pollutants that move through the storm drain system, which is a network of channels, gutters, and pipes. If not treated properly, the water can carry the pollutants directly into the city’s waterways.

The Stormwater Division has several programs to prevent pollution from storm water.

Reminder to Adopt, Foster Pets

In addition to alerting the community about the road construction project and the temporary inconvenience it might cause, authorities urged people to foster or adopt animals from the shelter to help ease pressure on shelters.

Giving the animals a temporary home can help lower their stress and give shelter staff more insight into their needs.

Visitors can explore the Santa Barbara County Animal Services if they are interested in adopting dogs, cats, rabbits, and other animals such as hamsters and mice.

For people looking to provide a temporary home to animals, the Animal Services offers a fostering program until the animal is adopted. All fosters are provided with supplies, including leashes, food, crates, and beds.