City College students and faculty might have to put up with traffic jams on Cliff Drive until the summer because of CalTrans’ $5.3 million construction work, Susana Zavala, public affairs officer at CalTrans, said,
“The project began in November and we can’t say exactly when it’s going to be done this summer,” Zavala said. “We need to have that window of those three months open in case of unexpected weather or other failure.”
Zavala said that the project begins on Las Positas Road at Highway 101, then continues east on Cliff Drive and eventually goes back to Highway 101 on Castillo Street.
Granite Construction, a private contractor from Santa Barbara, will be doing the construction work.
The rehabilitation plan, called Project 225, is primarily done to repave, re-stripe and replace pavements, sidewalks, gutters, curbs and wheel chair ramps.
Christine Nivet, a French teacher at City College, drives on Cliff Drive at least three times a day since she lives in the area.
“It’s a mess but they have to do the work. For me it’s just a few minutes delay and it’s pretty efficient. I even got a map in the mail at home showing where the construction would be.”
Student Chris Brown said that he usually drives on Cliff Drive around 9 a.m. and he hasn’t been bothered too much about the construction. He even said that he hasn’t even paid attention to that there was construction work going on.
However, student David Fitzsimmons said traffic has hit him hard, especially after school.
“Every morning when I come home from school I have to wait an extra 15 minutes to get on the freeway.”
Student Rhonda McDaniel said that she also plans for some extra time to get on the freeway. She said that she hopes it will be worth the inconvenience.
Zavala said that the project is divided into 14 stages and Granite construction is right now working on the third and fourth stages between Flora Vista Drive and Meigs Street.
She added that during each four and a half week stage, it takes time for people to adapt.
She also said that CalTrans has received a minimum of complaints.
Zavala said that to prevent bad reactions CalTrans made sure to notify the media, the police, the schools and public transportation prior to the construction work started. CalTrans have also put up black and orange signs posting detours suggestions.
Alternative routes to avoid the traffic of Cliff Drive, take Loma Alta and Shoreline streets .