Project Update for Milpas Street at U.S. Highway 101 Operational Improvements Project

The Milpas Street at U.S. Highway 101 Operational Improvements Project is critical to the success and safe operation of the U.S. Highway 101 Widening Project (HOV Project) and will address expected traffic impacts from the HOV Project. This Project will improve traffic operations along Milpas Street between the U.S. Highway 101 southbound on- and off-ramps and will include the following improvements:

• Widening Milpas Street at the northeast corner of the intersection of Milpas and Hutash Streets to provide space for a new dedicated southbound left-turn lane onto eastbound Hutash Street. This will allow U.S. Highway 101 on- and off-ramp traffic to move concurrently when there is no traffic queued in the new left turn lane;
• Traffic signal modifications at the intersection of Milpas and Hutash Streets to optimize signal phasing and reduce wait time at intersections;
• Extending the existing median south of the U.S. Highway 101 underpass to the intersection of Milpas and Cacique Streets to prohibit left-turns from southbound Milpas Street onto eastbound Cacique Street. This will help prevent southbound off-ramp traffic from queueing onto southbound U.S. Highway 101. Eastbound Cacique Street will have access from northbound Milpas Street via the hook off-ramp; and
• Installation of an elevated bike lane along Milpas Street between Cacique and Hutash Streets. This facility was a community-requested safety need to separate cyclists from vehicles due to the high traffic volumes in this area.

If you missed the recent in-person and webinar meetings for the Milpas Street at U.S. Highway 101 Operational Improvements Project, please click here to view the webinar recording. 

To learn more or ask questions about the Project, please contact: MilpasHwy101@SantaBarbaraCA.gov or visit SantaBarbaraCA.gov/MilpasHwy101