The six-month repair project of Thousand Steps in Santa Barbara is complete.
Construction on the steps began in March. The plan was originally set to last eight weeks and cost $1.1 million.
The public beach access stairway is one of three in the city. It was built in 1925 and originally called Camino a Mar.
It actually has only about 150 steps, which became eroded and unsafe to use because of erosion.
The project required careful timing with tides and coastal conditions and strict adherence to coastal permitting requirements to protect sensitive marine habitats, the Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Department said in a press release.
Renovation of the steps included reconstructing the lower 24 steps and installing seven additional steps, so that the pathway will be more accessible during low tide.
The project also added a handrail from the street down to the beach, a concrete guardrail at the main landing mid-stairway, drainage improvements to reduce algae growth and slippery stair treads, and a bike rack at the top of the stairway.
Peggy Lamb visited the newly repaired steps with her granddaughter. Lamb lived near the steps in 1976 and said she is glad that the city kept the original style of the steps.
The stairs will be closed again either in the fall or winter for additional construction work.
— Noozhawk staff writer Grace Kitayama can be reached at gkitayama@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.