While Highway 101 reopened Thursday evening, the three-day closure caused by the Alisal Fire created delays and increased traffic on Highway 154, as well as throughout the Santa Ynez Valley.
The Alisal Fire began Monday afternoon, and as of Friday afternoon, the wind-driven blaze had burned 16,901 acres and was at 41% containment.
As the blaze was pushed south, eventually crossing Highway 101, Caltrans closed the highway in both directions from Highway 1, north of the Gaviota tunnel, to Winchester Canyon in western Goleta on Monday evening.
Motorists were advised to use the winding, two-lane Highway 154 as a detour, or Interstate 5 for HAZMAT vehicles or commercial vehicles longer than 65 feet.
“We definitely did have an increase in calls with concerns of delays regarding the Highway 154 and Edison intersection,” Buellton California Highway Patrol Officer Keith Rogers said.
Rogers added that there were delays of up to 90 minutes, while many commuters reported two-hour delays between the South Coast and the Santa Ynez Valley.
As traffic was diverted through Solvang and Buellton from Highway 154, Rogers said Highway 246 also saw increased traffic.
“I imagine it was a parking lot,” Rogers said. “Lots and lots of vehicles trying to get through.”
During the time that Highway 101 was closed, between Monday and Thursday evenings, Rogers said six traffic collisions were reported on Highway 154, with speed, unsafe turning movements and animals crossing the road named as the causes.
He also said there were at least six reports of reckless driving on Highway 154 alone, ranging from high speeds to weaving and unsafe passing.
Traffic was allowed back onto Highway 101 along the Gaviota Coast around 6 p.m. Thursday after Caltrans workers replaced guardrails and repaired other damages.
Evacuation orders were still in place as of Friday, and motorists were asked to remain cautious and pay attention to roadways as Caltrans workers and emergency personnel remained in the area.
“The Sheriff’s Office would like to remind the public that traffic into the evacuation zones is restricted, and there will be roadblocks in these areas to prevent access,” said Raquel Zick, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department public information officer. “The Sheriff’s Office has increased patrol in these areas to ensure security of the residences and buildings as well as to keep the area clear of traffic that would impede firefighting efforts.”
Amtrak services were affected as well, when the railway running parallel to Highway 101 was closed Monday between Gaviota and Goleta.
Office of Emergency Management Director Kelly Hubbard told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday that 14 Amtrak passengers stayed overnight in the Dos Pueblos High School evacuation center when they were stranded in Santa Barbara on Monday evening after the train could not continue north.
The railway reopened Thursday evening, a few hours before the reopening of Highway 101, and Amtrak services have returned to normal.
“During the closure, we were asking motorists to slow down and pay attention to the roadway,” Rogers said. “Now we say thank you for the patience.”
— Noozhawk staff writer Serena Guentz can be reached at sguentz@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.