Tag archives: Roundabout

I am pleased that the Miramar is proposing adding affordable workforce housing for their employees alongside apartments and shops. Workforce housing helps local residents build a stronger foundation in the neighborhood: it helps both community and business. As the retired Director of the All Saints by the Sea Parish School next door, I was continually […]

The $18.3 million construction projects for the roundabouts at San Ysidro Road and Olive Mill Road received their own special celebration with a ribbon cutting ceremony, speeches, Recognition Certificates from elected officials, and press on Thursday, May 2. The celebration was set up on the upper sidewalk area around the northbound entrance ramp (now closed) […]

The City of Santa Barbara has announced two upcoming town hall meetings regarding the impending roundabout slated for the intersection of Los Patos Way and East Cabrillo Boulevard. The first is this week, Thursday, November 2, at 5:30 pm via Zoom. The second is next week, in person, at the Palm Park Beach House at […]

I’m not a civil engineer so I admit to being somewhat confused about the need for roundabouts versus single lane stops due to the improvements to the HWY101. More lanes are not exiting onto San Ysidro or Coast Village at once are they? My concern is one of proper (and pleasing) scale and awkwardness. These […]

Drivers traversing the San Ysidro roundabout over the weekend may have noticed the lighted traffic sign flashing an inappropriate message. According to the project team, the obviously-hacked sign was fixed within the day, with the contractor resetting the sign. “Unfortunately this happens all over the country, and we try and fix it as quickly as […]

Traffic circles sound so British, don’t they. I feel like folk in Downton Abbey period garb should be milling around, with an occasional ‘ahooga’ horn barreling into the Olive Mill. Thanks for your softly-wrapped skepticism/wariness about the new “fixes.” I was an outspoken critic when the idea first surfaced and maintained a wary and concerned […]

Gwyn Lurie Reflects on What We’ve Gained and Lost with Our New Roundabouts Let me start by saying I’m not anti-progress. But driving through Montecito’s recent road “improvements,” I have to admit to some feelings of nostalgia… and loss. For those not aware of the origin of our new roundabouts bookending Coast Village Road, and […]

This past weekend marked an important milestone in the construction of the San Ysidro Roundabout: the roundabout was opened for partial usage, and the overpass, an important thoroughfare in Montecito, was reopened, triggering the closure of the temporary fire station that was erected earlier this summer on Hill Road. “It entailed unbelievable collaboration for what […]

At the Montecito Association board meeting this week, the 101 team presented on the Montecito construction for the freeway-widening project that started Monday, and will run, in phases, through 2026. The segment from San Ysidro to Olive Mill is funded, while the funding for the segment from San Ysidro to Romero Creek is to be […]

A new traffic pattern was in effect last week at the intersection of Olive Mill Road, Coast Village Road, North Jameson Lane, and Highway 101, marking a significant turning point in the construction of the Olive Mill Roundabout. On Wednesday, May 17, the roundabout was opened partially to traffic, while construction work continues on the […]

Community members are invited to a meeting at Montecito Union School this Thursday, March 9, to learn about the construction staging for the San Ysidro Roundabout, which begins Monday, March 13. Here’s what you need to know.  The first phase of work will begin in the northwest corner of the intersection of North Jameson Lane […]

On Thursday, March 9, at 5 pm, there will be a meeting at Montecito Union School regarding the construction staging for the San Ysidro Roundabout, which starts mid-March.  The San Ysidro roundabout project includes replacing the current intersection at San Ysidro, North Jameson, and the Highway 101 northbound entrance and exit with an oblong-shaped roundabout, […]

Project Progress Highway 101 Widening Project  The long-awaited widening project from Carpinteria to Santa Barbara was discussed at length in 2022, with countless meetings to discuss design, construction, timing, and other details related to the addition of a third lane through Montecito.  The Montecito segment of the project (called 4D) includes widening 1.4 miles of […]

On Monday, November 14, the Montecito Board of Architectural Review and City of Santa Barbara Architectural Review Board held a joint hearing to consider the Olive Mill Roundabout for final design approval. The meeting was a follow-up to another joint hearing earlier this month, when several details about the project, including size of the olive […]

On Friday, November 4, community leaders and elected officials celebrated the kick-off for the Olive Mill Roundabout project. Construction will begin late November and go through summer 2023.  The roundabout will improve traffic flow at the intersection at Olive Mill Road, Coast Village Road, North Jameson Lane, the northbound Highway 101 off-ramp at Olive Mill […]

The project team behind the 101 expansion and associated projects in Montecito are making the rounds this week and next, preparing the community for impending traffic delays. Representatives from Caltrans and SBCAG, along with spokesperson Kirsten Ayars, will be at the Coast Village Business Association this week, followed by a public meeting next Tuesday, October […]

During community reports at this week’s MA meeting, Montecito Union School’s Anthony Ranii said the school’s largest fundraiser, the MUS Carnival, is slated for October 22. The fundraiser for the MUS Foundation raises funds to enhance the school’s academic, athletic, and arts programs; enrich the student experience with technology, curriculum, and improved classroom resources; and […]

Starting next Monday, September 26, and for the following three weeks, drivers in Montecito will experience significant delay at the Olive Mill/Coast Village/N. Jameson intersection, as Montecito Sanitary District (MSD) works to relocate 90 feet of sewer main in preparation of the upcoming roundabout at the area. The project also includes manhole installations, manhole modifications, […]

The New Roundabout Nightmare Brought to you by the same storytelling government that said closing southbound ramp would not adversely affect Coast Village Road. Plus, they knew they didn’t have to close the ramp until they widen the freeway through Montecito. The only conclusion we can make is they wanted Montecito to suffer. Hurt the […]

By the time you read this, the outcome of the U.S. presidential race may not be decided, but one thing will be certain: The much-anticipated 101 Freeway widening project, which will add two new lanes between Summerland and Santa Barbara over the next three years, will not only not be over, it will have already […]