Southbound 101 drivers

approaching Hwy. 154 would be alerted about conditions

By Raiza Canelon/Staff Writer

A large electronic message board installed by Caltrans on southbound Highway 101 just north of the off-ramp for Highway 154 will be activated by the end of the month.

The sign, of a type more common in urban areas, is intended to provide motorists with timely traffic information.

“We are seeing more and more of these boards around the state that will alert motorists of accidents, road closures, detour information and weather conditions,” said Jim Shivers, public information officer for the Caltrans district office.

This is the second message board planned for Santa Barbara County; the other one was scheduled to be activated this week near the Las Positas off-ramp on southbound Highway 101 in Goleta, according to Shivers.

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The messages will be coming from Caltrans' District 5 Transportation Center in San Luis Obispo, and key staff members will have access to the program to be able to post messages from any location, Shivers said.

“This location was picked because it allows an easy detour for motorists to take if either Highway (101 or 154) is closed or long delays are expected,” Shivers said.

The cost of this project, which started in July, is $394,000. The funding comes from a state budget account for traffic safety improvements.

“The final testing and activation is expected soon, however if there is a glitch we will have to work that out,” Shivers said. “It shouldn't take longer than a day.”

The message board will help notify motorists of holiday weekend updates and remind the public to notify the California Highway Patrol of drunken drivers and speeding, Shivers continued.

The message board is a valuable tool to help alert motorists of traffic conditions, said Felipe Hernandez, the CHP public information officer in Buellton.

For more information, call Caltrans District 5 Public Affairs Office at 549-3318 or visit www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/maint/road/upsb.htm.

October 10, 2008