Caltrans was fixing a highway near Santa Barbara. Then workers noticed the ‘tension cracks’

Emergency repairs due to worsening roadway cracks have prompted the closure of a segment of Highway 154, with no estimate Sunday for when it will reopen.

On Saturday afternoon, Caltrans announced the closure of the highway from the roundabout at Highway 246 in the Santa Ynez Valley to Highway 192 on the Santa Barbara side.

“Local residents will have access but will not be able to move past the damaged roadway on each side of San Antonio Creek Road,” the advisory said.

Drivers were directed to use Highway 101 as an alternate route.

Santa Ynez Valley residents said traffic on Highway 246 was heavy Sunday afternoon.

Highway 245, which connects Highway 154 with Highway 101, likely saw an increase due to southbound travelers, including those wrapping up weekend camping trips as Lake Cachuma.

Last week, Caltrans established traffic control measures on Highway 154 near San Antonio Creek Road as part of an ongoing emergency project to repair a slip out along the southbound shoulder of the road.

The agency’s field staff working on the repairs “observed tension cracks propagating up through the pavement, which appears to be extending in length over the last several hours and includes an elevation differential between the cracks and the adjacent pavement,” Caltrans representatives said.

On Saturday, they reported continued movement on the adjacent slope, prompting the complete closure.

Repairs continued Sunday as crews’ work included installing 30-foot dowels into the road and hillside.

The closure will continue for an unknown duration, according to emergency dispatch reports.

Drivers also noted heavy traffic Sunday afternoon on Highway 101 through Gaviota, where longer term construction projects continue to restrict travel lanes.

This story was originally published June 23, 2024 at 6:09 PM with the headline "Caltrans was fixing a highway near Santa Barbara. Then workers noticed the ‘tension cracks’."