Closure of Northbound Highway 101 in Gaviota

These emergency repairs are necessary to prevent a more serious, long-term roadway failure and to maintain a safe highway condition.

Motorists traveling northbound will be detoured onto southbound Hwy. 101 lanes. The two southbound lanes will be reduced to one lane in each direction through the Gaviota Pass area. Northbound and southbound two-way traffic will be separated with channelizers from just south of Gaviota State Park at Mariposa/Reina to the Hwy. 101/ Hwy. 1 interchange.

Southbound traffic will be reduced down to one lane beginning at the Nojoqui Grade.

The speed limit in the area will be temporarily reduced and motorists may encounter slow moving trucks due to the grades and curves in this area. The CHP will be patrolling the project area to enhance traffic safety and electronic message signs will be posted to advise motorists.

Both Gaviota Roadside Rest Areas will also be shut down, however Hwy. 101 will remain OPEN during this traffic switch and all businesses in the surrounding area will be accessible as well.

In addition, the northbound 101 left-turn pocket into Gaviota State Park will be closed. Motorists will be detoured north to the Hwy. 101/1 Interchange before returning to the park. Also, motorists exiting the State Park must turn right onto southbound Hwy. 101 to the Mariposa/Reina interchange, where they can turn around to go northbound.

The contractor for this $1.5 million emergency repair project is Granite Construction of Santa Barbara.

Caltrans reminds motorists to move over and slow down when driving through Caltrans construction zones.

For traffic updates on other state highway projects in Santa Barbara County, motorists can call Caltrans District 5 Public Affairs at 805-549-3318 or visit the District 5 website.