In the most significant public works project in decades in Old Town Goleta, the City Council on Tuesday is set to approve $71 million in funding for two street extensions, two new roundabouts, and a bridge replacement.

The city plans to build roundabouts on Hollister Avenue on both sides of Highway 217, and extend Ekwill and Fowler roads to improve biking and pedestrian flow, and overall circulation.

The council will vote on the $62 million contract for what is known as “Project Connect,” and another $8.9 million for potential change orders, at City Hall Tuesday evening.

“This transformative revitalization effort is the culmination of over 25 years of work by city and county officials, public works and planning staff,” said Councilman James Kyriaco. “Project Connect will serve as a catalyst for returning Old Town to its rightful place as Goleta’s downtown.”

The Ekwill Street and Fowler Road Extensions Project are intended to improve circulation in Old Town Goleta, enhance access to the Santa Barbara Airport, and create better pedestrian and bicycle circulation and safety.

Ekwill Street on one side borders a row of apartments, and dead-ends into a grove of trees and bushes next to Old San Jose Creek. The extension of the street will connect it to Pine Avenue.

The contract also aims to extend Fowler Road so that it connects Kellogg Avenue to Technology Drive.

The project includes the installation of a 1,000-foot segment of the Old San Jose Creek Multi-Use Trail. The trail segment that would be built as part of the project is located
between Pine Avenue and Kellogg Way, on the north side of Ekwill Street.

The new roundabouts are expected to improve traffic flow and make it easier for pedestrians and bicyclists, with one on each side of Highway 217.

The city also plans to demolish the existing Hollister Avenue bridge over San Jose creek to make it wider and align it with the roundabout on the Old Town Goleta side of Highway 217.

In addition, crews will build a fish passage in San Jose Creek.

If approved, construction is expected to start in spring 2024 and last two years.

The city could have spaced out the cost of the project, but officials said they would save money and speed up the time of construction by doing all the work at once.

The city plans to install over 125 new trees and 6,500 new plants and shrubs as part of the project.

The construction projects are part of a wave of changes to Old Town Goleta. The city also intends to narrow Hollister Avenue in Goleta to one lane in each direction, and install angled parking, once it can find funding.

The most recent construction bids came in over budget.

The roundabouts and street extensions have been in the works for a couple of decades, even before Goleta became a city, as part of a bigger effort to connect all the parts of Old Goleta.

The contract is set to be awarded to Security Paving LLC, which bid $62 million, but Granite Construction has submitted a protest.

The company bid $77 million, but alleges in a letter to the city that the bid was underestimated. Officials said the city is not likely to accept the protest, however, because if it does so, it would have to cancel the project and give back millions in grant funding.

Kyriaco contends the project is good for the city.

“It will provide better circulation and parking, improved road conditions, as well as significant bicycle and pedestrian safety improvements, benefitting Old Town residents, businesses and visitors,” he said.

The council meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 130 Cremona Drive.