A big chunk of northbound Highway 101 broke apart in Montecito, backing up traffic this morning to Carpinteria. | Credit: Caltrans

A chunk of concrete the size of a Mini Cooper broke into pieces in the northbound lanes of Highway 101 near the San Ysidro on-ramp, making the right-hand lane impassable. The slow lane has been closed since about 6 a.m.

Crews are on scene filling the big hole with asphalt and waiting for it to cure. Traffic is currently backed up to Carpinteria. The estimated wait time to get into the fast lane and past the work location is more than one hour.

[Update: 2:50 p.m.] Though Caltrans reports the patch was cured and the highway lane reopened at 12:30 p.m., heavy traffic remains on the northbound lanes from Carpinteria to Montecito.

Commuters and travelers headed north on Highway 101 encountered a nearly two-hour, unplanned stoppage this morning at Carpinteria. | Photo Credit: Jackson Friedman

Login

Please note this login is to submit events or press releases. Use this page here to login for your Independent subscription

Not a member? Sign up here.