NDOT prepares for roadwork on US50, and State Routes 28 and 431 this summer

LAKE TAHOE, Nev. - The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) has a major project planned for US50 at Warrior Way this summer, along with the third season of a multi-year project to help preserve pavement on sections of State Routes 431 and 28 near Incline Village.

Work is expected to commence on the projects on May 1.

With major roadway improvements taking place across the region, NDOT, Nevada State Police, Highway Patrol, and the Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County are reminding motorists to drive safely in road work zones. National Work Zone Awareness Week is held April 17-21, but being aware every day is key to saving lives.

Warrior Way

This summer, NDOT will install a traffic signal and make improvements to U.S. 50 near Warrior Way on Lake Tahoe's east shore. The new traffic signal will be installed at U.S. 50 at Warrior Way, providing protected turns to and from Warrior Way. NDOT says that in one previous year, nearly 575 turns were made from U.S. 50 and Warrior Way during peak morning and evening commute hours alone. For enhanced emergency response, the signal will temporarily stop traffic as fire engines respond from the nearby fire station.

For drivers coming from the north, there will be a warning light as this new light at Warrior Way is the first one drivers from that direction will encounter after Carson City. There will not be an advance warning light from the southern approach as there are several previous lights drivers encounter from Stateline.

Crosswalks, intersection sidewalks, and a short pathway will be constructed leading visitors directly from the signalized intersection into the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Zephyr Cove Day Use Area. USFS will construct a path from that point at the crosswalk to connect to its pedestrian paths inside the resort which will lead to the pier, according to USFS Assistant Forest Engineer, Mike Alexander.

An infiltration basin and drainage improvements will also be installed north of the intersection to enhance natural roadway stormwater infiltration and water quality.

On-highway parking from north of Warrior Way to the Zephyr Cove Resort entrance will also be permanently removed for safety. The on-highway parking is being removed to reduce safety concerns associated with vehicles parking along the shoulders of the heavily-traveled highway. The parking restrictions are aimed at keeping everyone safer by reducing the potential for pedestrian and other traffic crashes, said NDOT. Motorists currently park on the narrow shoulder near the highway's busy travel lanes, creating potential traffic safety concerns as cars are not always parked within the confines of the fog line. Erosion and dust pollution created by parking on the dirt roadway shoulders can also impact the Lake Tahoe environment.

NDOT said they continue conversations with US50 corridor partners to evaluate potential additional parking opportunities, but at this time it is conversation and nothing is planned.

SR28 and SR41 at Incline Village

NDOT and Q&D Construction will launch the third season of a multi-year project to help preserve pavement on sections of State Routes 431 and 28 near Incline Village.

Through October 2023, drivers should anticipate multiple work zones with single-lane flagger-controlled closures and up to 30-minute travel delays on State Routes 28 and 431 near Incline Village.

In May, the majority of lane closures will take place Sundays at 8 p.m. through 7 p.m. Fridays. Road construction hours during the summer will be Sundays at 8 p.m. through noon Fridays.

Commercial vehicles with air brakes will be prohibited from traveling over Mt. Rose Summit during the work.

Construction for the 2023 construction season includes:
* ITS conduit line installation - from the Northwood/Southwood Boulevard intersection in Incline Village to Ponderosa Ranch.
* Repaving six miles of SR 28 - four inches of roadway asphalt will be removed and replaced
* Select roadway cross slopes will be reconstructed for enhanced roadway alignment and drainage.
* Enhanced sidewalks, sidewalk ramps, storm drains, guardrails and driveway accesses
* SR 431 from SR 28 roundabout in Incline Village to the Mt. Rose Summit scenic overview:
- Repaving additional sections of SR 431- Three inches of roadway asphalt will be removed and replaced.
- Select roadway shoulders will be reconstructed and flattened.

During the 2022 construction season, crews repaved aging roadway asphalt on six miles of Mt. Rose highway near the summit and replaced roughly 16,000 linear feet of existing barrier rail with new decorative barrier along SR 431 from Mt. Rose summit to the SR 28 intersection. Crews also installed new detention basins and drainage improvements on SR-28 at Marlette Creek to enhance stormwater quality before it enters the lake, as well as reinforced an aging timber wall on SR 28 north of Memorial Point.