Gaviota Tunnel
The Gaviota Tunnel (officially known as the Gaviota Gorge Tunnel) is a tunnel on U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1 (US 101 and CA 1, most portions between San Francisco and Los Angeles follow the old El Camino Real) completed in 1953 in the center of Gaviota State Park,[1] 33 miles (53 km) northwest of Santa Barbara, California. It is 420 feet (130 m) long and 17.5 feet (5.3 m) tall. Only the northbound lanes of US 101 pass through it, as the southbound lanes descend from Gaviota Pass through a narrow canyon to the west of the tunnel. Because it is the only major route between the Santa Barbara County South Coast and the Santa Ynez Valley, bicycles are allowed through it. There is a rest area for both southbound and northbound lanes on the southern end of the tunnel, the southernmost one along U.S. Route 101.
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| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Location | Near Gaviota State Park, California |
| Coordinates | 34.4888°N 120.226°W |
| Route | Northbound lanes of .svg.png.webp){kind=small} US 101 and  SR 1 |
| Operation | |
| Owner | Caltrans |
| Technical | |
| Length | 420 ft (130 m) |
| Tunnel clearance | 14.75 ft (4.50 m) |
| Route map | |
| |
| Gaviota Pass | |
|---|---|
 Gaviota Pass - Aerial view of Gaviota Tunnel | |
| Location | Highway 101 North-Bound Rest Stop |
| Official name | Gaviota Pass |
| Designated | June, 2, 1937 |
| Reference no. | 248 |
There are frequent rockslides in the area, especially during and following rain. Some of the hillsides and road cuts are covered in netting to prevent erosion. There are also fences made of netting along the roadway to stop rocks that do fall.
An alternate bypass to this section of US 101 between Santa Barbara and Los Olivos is provided by State Route 154 (SR 154) capped by the Cold Spring Canyon Arch Bridge near the summit of San Marcos Pass. SR 154 cuts directly between Santa Barbara and Los Olivos in a northwestern direction, whereas US 101 runs along the coast of the Pacific Ocean about 25 miles (40 km) west before turning north passing through Buellton to meet up with SR 154 near Los Olivos.
History
Gaviota Pass is registered as California Historical Landmark #248. On this site during the Mexican–American War on Christmas Day 1846, the Mexican Army waited to ambush the American forces of John C. Frémont. Fremont learned of their plans and instead crossed the San Marcos Pass to capture Santa Barbara.[2]
In popular culture
The Gaviota Tunnel was featured in The Graduate, Wayne's World 2, and Sideways. But in the first two films, Dustin Hoffman and Mike Myers respectively travel the wrong way through the tunnel. In those movies, they are supposed to be going southbound, but go through the tunnel in the northbound direction (the tunnel does not have any southbound lanes). In Sideways, Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church are heading north, and therefore pass through the tunnel in the correct northbound direction.
In Grand Theft Auto V, the tunnel is known as the "Braddock Tunnel" and connects the town of Paleto Bay with the town of Grapeseed.
California Historical Landmark
California Historical Landmark reads:
- NO. 248 GAVIOTA PASS - Here, on Christmas Day, 1846, natives and soldiers from the Presidio of Santa Barbara lay in ambush for Lieutenant Colonel John C. Frémont, U.S.A., and his battalion. Frémont learned of the plot and, guided by Benjamin Foxen and his son William, came instead over the San Marcos Pass, to capture Santa Barbara without bloodshed. [3]
See also
References
- As can be seen on this map the tunnel lies in the middle of the state park, though strictly speaking, US 101 is not actually part of the park.
- "Gaviota Pass". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
- californiahistoricallandmarks.com Landmark No. 248