South Lake Tahoe Road Construction Season Starts

It's long been joked that South Lake Tahoe has two seasons: winter and road construction.

Get ready for the latter as it's time to begin the South Lake Tahoe projects.

At Tuesday's City Council meeting, Jim Marino, the City's Assistant Public Works Director, outlined all 13 different projects happening within city limits this year.

On the photos in this story you'll their locations, and which ones are deemed to create the heaviest traffic as a result of closing intersections or reducing travel to one lane.

Highway 89 both into the city from Meyers and leaving the city towards Camp Richardson will be an area of major traffic according to Marino. Other areas to watch out for are Tahoe Keys Blvd (at times some intersections will be closed and traffic diverted), Harrison Avenue Project, Baj Bijou (around the CVS parking lot), Stateline and Hwy 50 areas surround the Chateau Project, and Pioneer Trail from Larch to Shepherds.

The Harrison Avenue Project is starting this week with some tree removal and BMPS, with the actual Harrison Avenue section being worked on from May 1 to June 13. After June 13 the only thing expected to be left to do on Harrison will be lighting, benches and other finishing touches. From May 1 to August 9 the side streets will be tended to in order to create parking spots and the eventual one way only Riverside Drive. From September 1 to October 15 the Lakeview parking lots will be worked on and completed, along with Champions Plaza.

There will be an informational meeting for businesses and residents around the Harrison Project. It will be held on April 24 at the Senior Center at 6 p.m. Marino said they have been keeping in touch with business owners throughout the project and this is one more way for everyone to stay informed.

Marino said the keys to successful construction are planning and organizing and said “if we can do that well it will come out well.” He said he wants to help the community and not create more issues but he said they also need to keep the project on track so it doesn’t cost more.

"it is so encouraging that year after year we have such great projects," according to Mayor Hal Cole. "Community pride is evident. We have to give up some convenience to get to where we want to go."