Caltrans Clears Path In Montecito Mudslide Aftermath
Travelers and commuters awoke to good news on a Monday morning in Southern California.
Highway 101 in Montecito near Santa Barbara has re-opened to traffic after the Montecito mudslide prompted its closure.
Great news: #Hwy101 is now OPEN thru #Montecito @SBCounty! Thanks to our crews & contractors who made it happen. Off-ramps in area remain closed so watch for truck traffic & use extra caution. Safe travels, everyone. pic.twitter.com/thC429v6kM
— Caltrans District 5 (@CaltransD5) January 21, 2018
The area was swamped by rivers of mud and debris, causing extensive property damage and, unfortunately, loss of life.
The road, the main north-south artery for travelers and commuters, was closed as a result of the mudslide. Caltrans workers were seen sloshing around in mud up past their ankles, and crews worked around the clock to get the freeway open again to traffic.
Alternatives to getting through the area are few – people can take Interstate 5 but in the wintertime that can be a challenge as snow often closes the so-called Grapevine north of Los Angeles.
There is no Pacific Coast Highway in this area; the scenic area so famous starts north of Santa Barbara. Amtrak proved to be a popular solution as it added cars and another train to its schedule.
So now, northbound travelers can again access Santa Barbara and have easy access to the Central California wine region of Paso Robles, as well as the Highway 1 Discovery Route, which includes Hearst Castle.
A part of scenic Pacific Coast Highway, which parallels Highway 101 from Morro Bay past San Francisco, remains closed south of Big Sur due to a mudslide in that area last winter. It will be closed until July, according to CalTrans.
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