Seven years after the Montecito debris flows destroyed the Cold Spring Creek crossing, Santa Barbara County has finished building a permanent bridge over the creek.

The new two-lane bridge opened to vehicles last week.

It replaces a temporary bridge installed after the Jan. 9, 2018, debris flows destroyed the low-water crossing on East Mountain Drive near the Cold Spring trailhead.

First District Supervisor Roy Lee praised the Public Works Department for its work getting the permanent bridge finished and opened last week.

“This was not an easy job, and they moved quickly to build a safe and beautiful bridge that restores easy access to our trails and national forest,” he said in a statement.

Construction started in July 2024 and was funded by the Federal Highway Administration. Santa Barbara County Public Works and Caltrans oversaw the project.

The temporary bridge connecting East Mountain Drive, a one-lane installation, was completed in June 2020 using funds from a settlement involving Southern California Edison.

The 2018 Montecito debris flows killed 23 people and destroyed or damaged hundreds of homes in the aftermath of the December 2017 Thomas Fire.