Staff Report
Caltrans has announced that Highway 154 between the entrance to Cachuma Lake and the entrance to Live Oak will reopen by Wednesday, March 6, weather permitting, following a series of winter storms which blocked a culvert and damaged the roadway. The exact date and time of opening will be announced by the end of next week.
Caltrans is working on an emergency project with engineering and maintenance crews working 24/7 to reopen the highway. Caltrans has cleared the blocked culvert and is repairing the embankment and performing earthwork on the damaged highway before it can be re-opened.
When the highway reopens, motorists may encounter one-way reversing traffic control so that Caltrans can perform additional work at this location.
Those wishing to visit Lake Cachuma may use Hwy. 154 from the Santa Ynez area. Motorists from Santa Barbara can only travel to the Live Oak entrance. Businesses along Hwy. 154 remain open with US Highway 101 being the primary detour.
For traffic updates on other state highways in Santa Barbara County, motorists can call Caltrans District 5 Public Affairs at (805) 549-3318 or visit the District 5 website at: http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/road_information.htm
