Chick-fil-A Closes to Reconfigure Drive-Thru Lanes

Upper State Street’s Chick-fil-A restaurant is closed for eight to ten weeks as it reconfigures its drive-thru lanes to further reduce the chances of customer cars backing into the road. The restaurant is widening the entrance to three lanes and changing the exit so that drivers cannot make a left turn out of the parking lot across oncoming traffic.

In response to public outcry over consistent traffic headaches, the Santa Barbara City Council worked with Chick-fil-A to enact a new traffic management plan in June of 2022. 

In the year since, some of the changes have been made, including the hiring of a security guard and more staff to control traffic flow. “They [Chick-fil-A] went through the planning process and got the necessary approvals and permits. They are now going forward with the actual construction and implementation of the third [drive-through] lane,” said City Councilmember Eric Friedman.