U.S. 101 was reopened through Santa Barbara County at about noon Sunday, 13 days after devastating flash floods covered the key route between central and Southern California.
U.S. 101 had been closed since Jan. 9 in Santa Barbara County, as crews worked 24 hours per day to remove millions of square feet of fetid water, debris, mud, and possible human remains, washed into a depressed area of the freeway at Montecito, 90 miles west of the Los Angeles Civic Center.
A strong winter storm pummeled the Thomas Fire burn area, prompting the mudslides and devastation in the area.
Travelers have been forced to use buses, boats or trains to get through the closure area since the Jan. 9 mudslide. The Los Angeles Times reported Sunday that the 21st body from the catastrophic mud and rock flow was found Sunday.
–City News Service