The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors put the final stamp on the Isla Vista Beach Access Stairway Repair Project yesterday – allocating $200,000 to the stair-fixing program.

The repair project, which began in September 2007, has received all necessary funds for its estimated mid-November completion. Other groups funding the project include the Coastal Conservancy, Coastal Resource Enhancement Fund, Shoreline Preservation Fund and the Redevelopment Agency of the County of Santa Barbara. In total, the project costs $613,000.

Citing damage from years of coastal processes, the county decided that three of the five coastal access staircases in I.V. needed revamping. Improvements include replacing the eroded timber steps with stainless steel ones.

Third District Supervisor Brooks Firestone said residents can expect full access to the beach in the coming weeks.

“We’re looking forward to a safe and durable beach opening mid-November,” Firestone said.

The three coastal access stairways are located at Camino del Sur, Camino Pescadero and the Escondido Pass.

Since September, the repairs have caused periodic closures of the aforementioned staircases.

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