Gibraltar Road, East Camino Cielo and other local mountain roads remain closed due to extensive damage from the storms that have walloped Santa Barbara County over the last few months.
According to the Santa Barbara County hydrology page, Santa Barbara has received more than 26 inches of rain since January. Only 1.92 inches of rain fell during the same period last year.
In January, sections of Gibraltar Road collapsed, washed out by debris and mudslides. A massive boulder fell during last week’s heavy rain, further damaging the road.
Gibraltar Road could be closed for more than a year because of the damage, said Lael Wageneck, spokesman for the Santa Barbara County Public Works Department.
Wageneck told Noozhawk that an estimated $42 million would be needed to repair more than 150 damaged sections of roads countywide, with 20 such locations on Gibraltar Road alone.
Earlier this month, the Board of Supervisors approved an increase in allocations for the county roads operations fund.
Scroll through the slideshow below to view photos of the Gibraltar Road storm damage.
One of many slides along Gibraltar Road that will need to be repaired before the road can be reopened. Credit: Ray Ford / Noozhawk photo 
A huge boulder landed on Gibraltar Road during the recent rain. The road was already closed to vehicles due to extensive damage from the Jan. 9 storm. Credit: Santa Barbara County Public Works Department 
Gibraltar Road at the 1.2 mile point on Jan. 28. Credit: Chris Sneddon, Santa Barbara Public Works photo 
Gibraltar Road at the 2.9 mile point on Jan 13. Credit: Chris Sneddon, Santa Barbara Public Works photo 
Gibraltar Road damage at the 1.2 mile point as seen on Jan. 28. Credit: Chris Sneddon, Santa Barbara Public Works photo 
Gibraltar Road storm damage seen at the 2.9 mile point on Jan. 28. Credit: Chris Sneddon, Santa Barbara County Public Works photo 
Boulders fell onto Gibraltar Road after recent rain storms. Credit: Santa Barbara County Public Works Department photo 
Gibraltar Road is closed after extensive damage from the Jan. 9 storm. Credit: Santa Barbara County photo 
Gibraltar Road storm damage at the 3.8 mile point as seen on Jan. 13. Credit: Chris Sneddon, Santa Barbara County Public Works photo
“The public should expect (Gibraltar Road and East Camino Cielo) to be closed for an extended period of time,” Wageneck said.
He added that they should never drive around a safety barrier or road closure sign.
The latest storm also exacerbated damage on a section of Jalama Road at the 6-mile marker.
Wageneck said steel plates have been installed on one side of Jalama Road to allow for emergency access only.
Jalama Beach County Park and its campground are currently closed since the road is washed out.
The roadway and park were closed for about a week after the Jan. 9 storm due to a large sinkhole.
Click here for a full list of county, state, and Santa Barbara- and Santa Maria-related road closures.
