California 246


California 246 is a two-lane, east-west highway starting at the western city limits of Lompoc (not Surf, as erroneously shown on some maps) and continuing east to California 154 near Santa Ynez via Solvang, a popular Santa Barbara County tourist destination. The highway roughly parallels the Santa Ynez River throughout.

California 246 east
The first shield for California 246 east is posted on eastbound Ocean Avenue at the Lompoc city limits, about nine miles east of Surf. The state route will continue from this point east to Lompoc, Buellton, Solvang, and Santa Ynez before ending at California 154. Photos taken 02/02/08.
Eastbound California 246 (Ocean Avenue) approaches O Street at the next traffic signal. Photo taken 02/02/08.
After a recent rain storm, the gutters were full of water next to a flood warning sign. A shield for California 246 is posted on Ocean Avenue after L Street in Lompoc. Photo taken 02/02/08.
At I Street, California 246 (Ocean Avenue) enters downtown Lompoc. Photo taken 02/02/08.
The next intersection along eastbound California 246 (Ocean Avenue) is with California 1 (H Street) in downtown Lompoc. Photo taken 02/02/08.
Turn left on H Street to follow California 1 north to Vandenburg Air Force Base and Santa Maria and continue straight ahead to Buellton via California 246 and Santa Barbara via California 1. Photo taken 02/02/08.
California 1 south & 246 east
After the H Street intersection, California 246 east and California 1 south are supposed to be cosigned, but only a California 246 shield is posted here. Photo taken 02/02/08.
California 246 east remains signed, but California 1 south is not signed again on this shield assembly in Lompoc on Ocean Avenue. Photo taken 02/02/08.
Eastbound California 246 and southbound California 1 meet Third Street at this traffic signal. Photo taken 02/02/08.
Eastbound California 246 and southbound California 1 meet Seventh Street at this traffic signal. Photo taken 02/02/08.
Soon thereafter, the routes will divide: eastbound California 246 will continue toward Buellton and Solvang, while southbound California 1 will turn southeast toward Gaviota and Santa Barbara. Photo taken 02/02/08.
Continue straight through this intersection to follow eastbound California 246 to Buellton and Solvang, and turn right to follow California 1 southeast toward Gaviota and Santa Barbara. Photo taken 02/02/08.
California 246 west
In southeastern Lompoc, westbound California 246 approaches California 1. The two state routes will merge from this point northwest into downtown Lompoc. Photo taken 06/01/02.
California 1 north & 246 west
Immediately after merging together, California 1 north and California 246 west have a pair of reassurance shields. A Home Depot is located on the north side of California 1 and California 246; this area was undeveloped in 2002. From here, California 246 west will remain cosigned with California 1 north from east of Lompoc into the city center. Then California 1 splits north, while California 246 continues due west. The state route ends at the western city limits of Lompoc, and the county has taken over maintenance of former California 246 from Lompoc west to Surf. Surf is basically a stop for the Surfliner Amtrak rail route that follows the California coastline from San Diego to San Francisco. Photo taken 02/02/08.
Northbound California 1 and westbound California 246 (now called Ocean Avenue) approach Seventh Street (traffic signal). Plans once called for a bypass of Lompoc that would take California 1 out of downtown, but such plans have not come to fruition. Photo taken 02/02/08.
The next signalized intersection along California 1 north and California 246 (Ocean Avenue) west is with Third Street. Photo taken 02/02/08.
Northbound California 1 and westbound California 246 (Ocean Avenue) approaches A Street. Photo taken 02/02/08.
A set of California 1 north and California 246 west reassurance shields are found on westbound Ocean Avenue at C Street, but they are obscured by a street light pole. Photo taken 02/02/08.
The next signalized intersection along California 1 north and California 246 (Ocean Avenue) west is with H Street in downtown Lompoc. The routes will divide in one block. Photo taken 02/02/08.

A California 1 north trailblazer is posted prior to the H Street intersection. Turn right to follow California 1 (H Street) north to Vandenburg Village, the main gate for Vandenburg Air Force Base, and Guadalupe. California 246 will continue west along Ocean Avenue into western Lompoc. Photos taken 02/02/08 and 06/01/02.
California 246 (Ocean Avenue) travels west to the south gate of Vandenburg Air Force Base and the Amtrak stop at Surf. The state route extends west to the Lompoc city limits, and the rest of the route is county maintained all the way to Surf. This sign was replaced between 2002 and 2008. Photos taken 02/02/08 and 06/01/02.
California 246 west
After the split form California 1 at the H Street intersection in downtown Lompoc, California 246 continues west along Ocean Avenue. Photo taken 02/03/08.
The first standalone reassurance shield for California 246 west is signed with an odd arial font. Photo taken 02/03/08.
Westbound California 246 (Ocean Avenue) meets L Street at this intersection. Photo taken 02/03/08.
A more normal looking California 246 west shield is posted on Ocean Avenue after the L Street intersection. Photo taken 02/03/08.
Westbound California 246 (Ocean Avenue) meets O Street at this intersection. Photo taken 02/03/08.
A final four-way stop sign at V Street is the last stop prior to leaving Lompoc. Photo taken 02/03/08.
Westbound California 246 ends at the Lompoc city limits, and the end is well signed with an end shield. California 246 was planned to extend all the way to Surf, as suggested by this mileage sign, which ends at Milepost 8.30. However, such an extension is not likely to occur, especially since there is not much in Surf (other than an Amtrak station) that requires a state route. The county route that continues west from this point provides sufficient access to the coastline. Photos taken 02/03/08.


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Page Updated May 3, 2009.

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