highway 49
Smoke from Loyalton Fire can be seen from Lake Tahoe
Submitted by paula on Sat, 08/15/2020 - 1:51pm
8:30 p.m. SUNDAY UPDATE: The Loyalton Fire which originated east of the town of Loyalton and southwest of Mount Ina Coolbrith is now estimated at 29,828 acres and 0 percent contained. It is north and east adjacent to the areas of Beckwourth Pass and Hallelujah Junction.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Full closure of US50 over Echo Summit planned for June
Submitted by paula on Tue, 04/21/2020 - 4:09pm
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Work on US50 over Echo Summit to replace an 81-year-old bridge has resumed. The $14.1 million Echo Summit Sidehill Viaduct Replacement Project will replace the bridge with a structure that meets current seismic and safety standards.
Travelers can expect daytime work with one-way reversing traffic now, with around-the-clock one-way traffic control from May 26 until May 31, then full closure from June 1 until about June 14.
Caltrans and its contractor expect work to be completed this year.
The current schedule:
Lake Tahoe, Sierra and El Dorado County roadwork February 23 - February 29
Submitted by paula on Sun, 02/23/2020 - 1:01am
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) will work on projects through the Sierra, as weather permits this winter. There are no major projects going on in the Lake Tahoe Basin until building season begins in May. The following is their weekly schedule:
SPECIAL EVENT
State Route 28 (Placer County) from the junction with State Route 89 to Sierra Terrace Road in Tahoe City: Motorists can expect the highway closed from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, February 29 for the SnowFest Parade.
LONG-TERM PROJECTS
Tahoe National Forest Meetings: Managing natural fire for multiple resource benefits
Submitted by paula on Fri, 01/10/2020 - 12:12am
The Tahoe National Forest will be hosting several public information meetings this month to discuss a proposed amendment to the Tahoe National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan.
Presentations and discussions at the public meeting will cover:
- The historic and present role of natural fire within the Tahoe National Forest
- Details of the proposed amendment that would expand opportunities to use naturally ignited, lightning-caused wildfires (natural fire) to achieve multiple resource benefits
El Dorado County fires prompt evacuations
Submitted by paula on Wed, 08/01/2018 - 6:45pm
8:00 p.m. update: Omega Fire is 10 percent contained, reported at 80 acres with 1 destroyed residence and two damaged residences. The evacuation center has been relocated to Northside Elementary School, 860 Cave Valley Road, Cool, Calif.
The Bumper Fire is 80 percent contained and it has burned 67 acres according to CalFire.
* * *
Three fires started in El Dorado County Wednesday, prompting law enforcement to evacuate residents from several streets in the areas as firefighters fought the fire from both the ground and the air.
Lake Tahoe area roadwork May 6-12
Submitted by paula on Sat, 05/05/2018 - 8:58am
The following are the current California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) road projects in the El Dorado and Placer County areas of Lake Tahoe and the Sierra for the week of May 6 - May 12, 2018.
LONG-TERM PROJECTS
Memorial "Face Rat" party for Ronson Sakioka
Submitted by paula on Sun, 04/01/2018 - 7:34pm
Event Date:
April 6, 2018 (All day)
There will be a memorial day on the slopes in memory of Ronson Sakioka on Friday, April 6 on the face of Heavenly, followed by an after-party in the California Lodge.
The 64-year-old Sakioka was a long time South Lake Tahoe area local. He was killed by a car as he attempted to cross Highway 49 at night during the Victorian Christmas in Nevada City on December 20, 2017.
Avalanche warnings in place for Lake Tahoe back country and Crystal Bay
Submitted by paula on Fri, 03/16/2018 - 11:10am
March 16 3:00 PM update: Washoe County has issued a Stage 2 Avalanche Alert for the Crystal Bay and Third Creek area. Stage 2 Avalanche Alert Action: In a Stage 2 Avalanche alert, if you choose to evacuate, please do so now or within the next 2-4 hours.
The next and final alert is a Stage 3 Avalanche Alert.
Stage 3 Avalanche Alert Action: A Stage 3 Avalanche alert signifies a shelter-in-place alert and a warning to NOT leave your home for up to 24 hours.
South Lake Tahoe man hit and killed in Nevada City
Submitted by paula on Fri, 12/22/2017 - 10:39pm
A South Lake Tahoe man was killed Wednesday night after being struck by a car in Nevada City.
Ronson Sakioka, 64, was attending that community's Victorian Christmas and was attempting to cross Highway 49 when he was struck by a Honda Pilot driven by a Nevada City resident. The driver did not see Sakioka according to California Highway Patrol Sgt. Brian Waughn.
Sakiok was flown to Roseville where he died.
Waughn said the driver and passenger of the Honda were not injured, and no charges are pending at this time. He says drugs and alcohol were not a factor with the driver.
California fire sending smoke into Lake Tahoe Basin and Reno
Submitted by paula on Tue, 07/18/2017 - 8:26am
A large fire in California in Mariposa County is sending out a lot of smoke, some of it ending up in the Lake Tahoe Basin.
The Detwiler Fire has burned 15,500 acres as of Tuesday morning, is five percent contained and threatens 300 homes along Highway 49 north of the town of Mariposa.
Winds from the south are sending that smoke along the Sierra, over Lake Tahoe and into Carson City and Reno areas according to the National Weather Service in Reno.
Highway 50 at Kyburz closed due to mudslide
Submitted by paula on Thu, 06/08/2017 - 4:32pm
5:00 p.m. - A section of Highway 50 in El Dorado County is now closed after new slide activity at the location pushed a heavy amount of debris onto the roadway. Crews are in the process of putting the signage up.
Lake Tahoe road update; SR-89 at Emerald Bay may open Saturday
Submitted by paula on Fri, 02/24/2017 - 10:46pm
SR-89 at Emerald Bay may open Saturday after crews have made significant progress on clearing away snow from last week's storm as well as snow and debris 20 feet high from a slide that fell onto the highway at Vikingsholm.
Meanwhile, one lane of U.S. Highway 50 remains open in each direction at Bridal Veil Falls while emergency work continues on a major slipout that destroyed the #2 westbound lane and also impacted the #1 lane. Work there is also expected to take several months for the design and construction of a new retaining wall to stabilize the slope.
Details of two more major Caltrans projects unveiled during public meeting
Submitted by paula on Thu, 10/20/2016 - 10:41pm
Two hot topics for locals were discussed during a Caltrans informational meeting at the Lake Tahoe Airport on Thursday evening: A roundabout and viaduct replacement.
The 3-legged Roundabout
Citing the safety of the intersection of Highway 50 and 89 in Meyers as the catalyst, project managers, engineers and planners unveiled their plans for a three-legged roundabout at the intersection to the dozens of interested citizens who attended.
Placer County inmate escapes; Deputies find her "sunbathing" in river
Submitted by paula on Sat, 07/16/2016 - 9:22pm
A female inmate from Placer County enjoyed only about 50 minutes of freedom on Friday after she escaped a road work crew.
$583 million to be spent on California roads; Over $36 million in SLT
Submitted by paula on Mon, 07/04/2016 - 1:57pm
The California Transportation Commission (CTC) has adopted 156 projects, valued at $583 million, to support needed upkeep on California’s aging roads and bridges, make upgrades to transit and rail systems and encourage use of alternative forms of transportation, including biking and walking. One major project in South Lake Tahoe has been adopted.
Butte Fire is 40% contained; 71,780 acres burned
Submitted by paula on Wed, 09/09/2015 - 10:48pm
6:15 p.m. update 9/15/15:
New evacuation advisories were put up at the scene of the large Butte Fire on Tuesday.
Kyburz Fire now 98% contained; 75 acres burned
Submitted by paula on Thu, 07/23/2015 - 2:41pm
The Kyburz Fire is burning about 25 miles west of South Lake Tahoe. It has burned both sides of Highway 50 near and around the American River. It started on Highway 50 near Whitehall.
10 a.m. update 7/27/15:
The Sand Flat Campground has reopened as firefighters can almost total control of the fire lines. They now have 98% of the fire contained.
An updated infrared look at the scene has again reduced the amount burned to 75 acres.
They will not be updating the fire command website after Tuesday as they transfer o a forest Type 4 organization.
El Dorado County wildfire off Highway 49 fully contained
Submitted by paula on Fri, 04/17/2015 - 8:36pmSmoke in the sky in El Dorado County was from 14-acre wildfire on Thursday, according to Cal Fire.
The Gold Fire was off 8201 Highway 49 in the area of Sand Ridge Road.
The location is near or where the Sand Fire burned in 2104.
Cal Fire tweeted the fire was 100 percent contained as of 5:30 p.m. Friday afternoon.
The flames were in a hard-to-reach area, Cal Fire reported. One helicopter was initially working the fire and additional firefighting resources had been requested.
Back Roads - Lake Tahoe to Apple Hill via Highway 4
Submitted by paula on Mon, 10/07/2013 - 10:15pm
My daughter and I had been planning our annual Apple Hill trek for several days when I decided to change it up a bit. Since my free time is so rare I figured why not include a visit to our favorite little town Sutter Creek? And then, since we're doing that, might as well throw in a drive down beautiful Highway 4! Since the portion of the road we'll be covering is closed after the first big snow we had to do it! The day was plotted on a map in my head with some verification on google maps. The map said our little trip was going to take 5 hours and 10 minutes and cover 225 miles.
