Solutions being sought to alleviate tourist traffic in Meyers

Holiday traffic leaving South Lake Tahoe this weekend created another bottleneck in Meyers as well as on side roads throughout the area from those attempting to find a quicker getaway. The choices they made Monday created a three-hour drive from the Y in South Lake Tahoe to areas in Meyers.

Highway 50 over Echo Summit is designed to handle 1,200 cars per hour without any issues, but those numbers dropped Monday, February 19. Just how much they dropped is unknown as the traffic counters normally placed over the roadway are removed for snow removal.

There have been no issues with traffic this winter when compared with the 2017 winter with heavy snow conditions throughout the season. Much of that relates to a lack of snow on the roadway.

On Monday, Feb. 19, California Highway Patrol (CHP) in South Lake Tahoe responded to 10 collisions, eight calls of reckless drivers. five disabled vehicles and six for other issues, all in the general Meyers area.

CHP Officer Jeff Gartner said there were a lot of issues going on during the travel times on Monday that may have contributed to the bottleneck, though no one cause is evident.

For each accident, even if addressed within ten minutes, it can create a back log. He also said traffic getting onto Highway 50 from North Upper Truckee Road is slower as they first enter the roadway, thus adding to slower travel times. Perhaps the standstill traffic on I-80 sent some drivers south to Highway 50.

Gartner also said there are a lot of issues with people parking along the roadway on Echo Summit so they can enjoy the snow, even when signage states that is forbidden. He said some people were even parking in the second lane, slowing down travelers.

At 12:15 p.m. Monday, one resident in the Dixie Mountain/View Circle area off of North Upper Truckee Road tried to take things into her own hands and blocked the roadway by standing in the middle with her child, telling drivers they weren't allowed down the residential roadway.

While this is against the law, drivers using the back roads is not against the law and people have the right to use them.

El Dorado County Supervisor Sue Novasel said she, the County and law enforcement are trying to find a way to change things. "So far, even Waze and other apps have become wary about what local governments have tried to do to stop drive-thru traffic, including illegal signs and prohibitions," said Novasel. She said she is continuing to find solutions.

Last year the County added a Traction Control Ordinance in an attempt to remove cars from neighborhood roads to Highway 50. Those drivers attempting to circumvent traffic ended up using Manda, North Upper Truckee and other local roads but a new ordinance will try and alleviate those issues. This is only enforceable when chains are required, not a situation Monday.

"We are trying to find out the main cause," said Gartner. "Is it traffic, weather, or what?" He said while summers are busy they don't have the same traffic issues as people leave South Lake Tahoe.