A key state highway in the Tri-Counties is back in business, after being closed since January 9 by the massive storm which hit the region.
Highway 154 officially reopened at 5 p.m. Wednesday. It was closed between Santa Barbara and the Santa Ynez Valley. There were a number of rock and mudslides on the highway which took days to clear. Crews also worked to remove loose rocks and debris from slopes which might come down during future storms.
The highway passes through San Marcos Pass, which had some of the highest rainfall totals in the region. It received nearly 18 inches of rain during the January 9 storm, and a few inches more from the other storms to pass through the region.