State Route 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.
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.
02/02/08
Eastbound California 246 (Ocean Avenue) approaches O Street at the next traffic signal.
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.
02/02/08
At I Street, California 246 (Ocean Avenue) enters downtown Lompoc.
02/02/08
The next intersection along eastbound California 246 (Ocean Avenue) is with California 1 (H Street) in downtown Lompoc.
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.
02/02/08
South East
The reassurance marker for SR 246 posted along Ocean Avenue after A Street omits SR 1 south.
02/02/08
SR 1/246 (Ocean Avenue) east at Seventh Street in Lompoc.
02/02/08
SR 1/246 shift northeast from Ocean Avenue at 7th Street ahead of their separation. SR 246 continues east toward Buellton and Solvang, while SR 1 turns southeast toward Gaviota and Santa Barbara.
02/02/08
West
SR 246 west combines with SR 1 northbound into the city of Lompoc. SR 1 south traverses the Santa Ynez Mountains to U.S. 101 at Las Cruces.
06/01/02
North West
SR 1/246 shift west onto Ocean Avenue across the Lompoc street grid beyond the traffic light at 7th Street.
02/02/08
Reassurance markers for SR 1/246 posted along Ocean Avenue west of C Street were removed by 2017.
02/02/08
SR 1 lines H Street through north Lompoc en route to Vandenburg Village, the main gate for Vandenburg Space Force Base, and Guadalupe.
02/02/08
1.25 miles of SR 246 remain along Ocean Avenue west between SR 1 (H Street) and the Lompoc city line.
06/01/02
West
After the split form California 1 at the H Street intersection in downtown Lompoc, California 246 continues west along Ocean Avenue.
02/03/08
The first standalone reassurance shield for California 246 west is signed with an odd arial font.
02/03/08
Westbound California 246 (Ocean Avenue) meets L Street at this intersection.
02/03/08
A more normal looking California 246 west shield is posted on Ocean Avenue after the L Street intersection.
02/03/08
Westbound California 246 (Ocean Avenue) meets O Street at this intersection.
02/03/08
A final four-way stop sign at V Street is the last stop prior to leaving Lompoc.
02/03/08
The west end of SR 246 at the Lompoc city limits.
02/03/08
California 246 was planned to extend all the way to Surf, which ends at Milepost 8.30. However, the county route that continues west from this point provides sufficient access to the coastline.
02/03/08
Photo Credits:
- Andy Field: 06/01/02, 02/02/08, 02/03/08
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Page Updated Sunday May 03, 2009.