It’s a South Coast intersection which has been an issue for years, with two freeway on and offramps, and three streets all coming together in one place.
Work is now official underway on a project to fix the issue, with what will be a roundabout at Olive Mill Road in Montecito. The idea is to improve the traffic flow between Olive Mill Road, Coast Village Road, Jameson Lane, and Highway 101. Traffic is currently regulated by a series of stop signs.
Work on the $9 million project is expected to take about nine months. It will mean some delays for motorists traveling through the intersection.
Coordinating the project was complex, because it involves the City of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County, and Caltrans. It’s part of a bigger project to add a carpool lane to Highway 101 in both directions through Montecito.
