CHP cites 22 drivers for making turns at closed intersections near South Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - After a few weekends of verbal warnings to drivers making right turns from Sawmill and North Upper Truckee roads when prohibited, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) ticketed 22 drivers on Memorial Day.

CHP patrol units wrote eight citations at Sawmill Road and 14 at North Upper Truckee Monday. Four of the violators had local addresses, five were frequent visitors and four said they were tourists. Four of the ticketed did say they were told by someone to take that route, according to CHP South Lake Tahoe Officer Ruth Loehr.

The new turn restrictions prohibit right-hand turns from North Upper Truckee Road to westbound U.S. Highway 50 and from Sawmill Road to westbound U.S Highway 50 on Sundays and holidays between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. The pilot restrictions will terminate on October 31, 2021, and it is not known at this time if it will be extended.

This is a pilot program in response to complaints from residents about a large number of vehicles using neighborhood streets as another highway to bypass backups on westbound U.S. Highway 50 in Meyers. The restriction on turns is for all drivers, locals included. Cell phone mapping apps will guide drivers onto side streets to avoid traffic based on Bluetooth and other data. If a street is closed or has restrictions, the apps will not send drivers onto those roads.

Loehr said they are hearing from many locals that they are pleased with the progress on keeping drivers out of neighborhoods while others say they are upset they cannot turn right during the six-hour ban.

"Overall, it seems to be keeping the roads clearer," said Loehr.

El Dorado County staff performed vehicle counts on Memorial Day at both of the intersections. They found the maximum vehicle queue on North Upper Truckee Road from US Hwy 50 at about 11:57 a.m. went approximately 100 yards past San Bernardino Avenue, about .60 miles. By 2:15 p.m. the queue on North Upper Truckee Road was down to 2 to 5 vehicles or less and the peak travel on North Upper Truckee Road was done, according to County Traffic Superintendent Darryl Brown.

Loehr said the CHP patrol units also noted the traffic on US 50 was gone by the same time.

Brown said they are trying to have a Meyers Town Hall meeting around July 14 or 15 to go over collected data and the program's successes and complaints to date.

The Changeable Message Sign (CMS) warning drivers of no westbound access to US 50 will be removed this week from Lake Tahoe Boulevard. There are still permanent signs in place (as seen in this story).