CHP advises motorists to not travel to Lake Tahoe this weekend

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The stories of 10-15 hours to get to Lake Tahoe from the Bay Area on Friday were not isolated, and many of the repeat reports are occurring on Saturday.

Epic ski conditions have beckoned visitors to the mountains over the three-day holiday weekend, but what created those ski conditions has also caused local roads that aren't passable and clogged highways with frequent closures.

The message from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) in Placerville stated the seriousness simply on their social media Friday, "Stop driving up here from out of the area. We cannot handle the amount of vehicles that keep coming up and getting stuck here. There are no alternate routes. Expect 6-8 hour delays."

They dealt with drivers trying to bypass the congestion by pulling off Highway 50 onto Sly Park Road in Pollock Pines and heading south toward the Mormon Immigrant Trail which is closed in winter. It if were open it would take them towards Kirkwood Ski Area and SR88.

CHP shut down the exit except for all motorists except for residents.

"Just please stop coming up here. The situation is too much for the area to handle and there is nowhere for you to go," said the CHP Placerville office.

Besides the weather and holiday travelers, US50 was also filled with those who would normally use I80 through the mountains. That route was closed most of Thursday night and Friday.

As of Saturday morning I80 is open to vehicles with chains or 4WD with snow tires but all tractor-semitrailer combinations are being held at Applegate and the state line due to traction concerns.

Since big rigs haven't been allowed on the major interstate for over two days, many of their drivers are bringing their loads through South Lake Tahoe via Spooner Summit and Luther Pass in an attempt to head over Echo Summit on US50.

According to the CHP in South Lake Tahoe, many of those drivers are ignoring the laws on traveling US50. There is a 65-foot maximum size and, at this time, maximum chain controls. Truck drivers are supposed to use their special truck maps that detail size and weight restrictions along with all other current conditions. CHP said they use normal travel apps that don't outline those restrictions, often sending them on North Upper Truckee Road which cannot handle trucks and has higher amounts of snow not plowed as much as the highway.

On Friday CHP responded to several big rigs stuck in the snow on Sawmill Road and North Upper Truckee, all without proper chains on and in areas restricted to their size.

On Saturday, CHP in South Lake Tahoe issued this warning:

"Travel to South Lake Tahoe is NOT recommended. Inclement weather has caused CALTRANS to intermittently hold traffic on US-50 for avalanche control causing 6-8 hour traffic delays. Please plan accordingly and drive safe."

Their Placerville office followed with the same type of warning:

"US-50 is already backing up. Motorists just don’t want to heed our warnings.
Chain control from Point View to Meyers. Expect an 8-10 hour trip to South Lake Tahoe, if you are lucky. Snow will continue to fall and Caltrans will continue to hold traffic intermittently for avalanche control. THEY HAVE TO DO THIS TO KEEP YOU ALIVE!"

Many have asked why it is taking so long, and it's not just one issue but many piled on top of each other. For every one minute of delay it takes three minutes of recovery.

Many motorists are not prepared and then stop illegally in the lane of travel to put chains on or expect to find someone to buy them from put on their vehicles. In the middle of the mountains there are very few locations and the "chain monkeys" do not sell chains.

For every car that stops and delays traffic for ten minutes it takes 30 minutes of recovery.

For every 30 minutes US50 is closed for avalanche control, it takes 90 minutes for traffic to recover.

Former South Lake Tahoe Mayor Tom Davis went west along US50 Saturday morning and saw the eastbound vehicles in bumper-to-bumper traffic from South Lake Tahoe to Fresh Pond. Wherever the road moves to passing lanes both lanes become impacted with traffic.

"I've never seen it this bad," said Davis.

Caltrans had the following message on their website Saturday: Please research chain control locations as Caltrans is currently working to update them or consistency with internet mapping like Google Maps and MapQuest.

Those internet mapping sites are also very misleading on travel times. They operate with data from drivers' Bluetooth devices and if in standstill traffic that data is misleading and not accurate.

For their road information, visit http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/. Don't only look at the map but go to the highway link for the road being traveled for more details. Also take a look at the Caltrans Facebook page for good details-https://www.facebook.com/CaltransDistrict3/.