Highway 101: Montecito

Project Overview

Highway 101: Montecito will add a new peak-period carpool lane in each direction from the Romero Creek Bridge north to Olive Mill Road. There will also be new on- and off-ramps as well as northbound and southbound auxiliary lanes (lanes connecting on-ramps and off-ramps to improve merging) between San Ysidro and Olive Mill Roads. New bridges will be built over Romero, San Ysidro, and Oak Creeks.

Construction is scheduled from mid-June 2023 through 2026. Funding in the Advanced Work area is provided by state and regional funds and Measure A. Senate Bill 1 and Measure A fund the remainder of the project.

Montecito Phase 4D Components Map

Updated
November
2025

Roadway Improvements

Project Timeline

Updated
November
2025

The timeline is a reference tool to show planned improvements and key closures. The timing may change to accommodate modifications from the contractor, weather delays, and to improve construction.

Construction is scheduled from summer 2023 through 2026. Landscaping activities will continue into 2027. Highway 101 will have 2 lanes open in each direction during daytime construction. There will be nighttime closures with signed detours as needed.

Timeline of construction activities for Montecito

Divided Lanes

Montecito Divided Lanes Southbound Graphic

Summer 2025 -
Summer 2026

Summer 2025 - Summer 2026

From summer 2025 to summer 2026, the southbound lanes will shift into the median between Olive Mill Road and Posilipo Lane. The southbound lanes will be divided by safety barriers to maintain two lanes of traffic and provide space for construction of the new southbound lanes. Lanes will have the standard 12' width. This is a similar configuration to how the northbound lanes were divided from summer 2024 - summer 2025.

Rendering of Olive Mill Roundabout East
County of Santa Barbara, California City of Santa Barbara, California

Montecito Area
Roundabouts

The Montecito area has two local intersection improvements - the Olive Mill Roundabout and the San Ysidro Roundabout. Both roundabouts improve local traffic flow where North Jameson Lane intersects with the Highway 101 on- and off-ramps at Olive Mill Road and San Ysidro Road respectively. Please click on a project below to learn more.

Highway 101: Carpinteria to Santa Barbara is a project undertaken by Caltrans and SBCAG in cooperation with local agencies to add a new carpool lane in each direction between Carpinteria and Santa Barbara. The project will improve bridges, interchanges, on- and off-ramps, and add sound walls.

City of Carpinteria, California County of Santa Barbara, California City of Santa Barbara, California