highway 50

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Caltrans is now looking at October 18 as the beginning of a two-week closure of US Highway 50 at Echo Summit.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county. The following are calls that only pertain to the South and West Shore, including Meyers, South Lake Tahoe, Meeks Bay, Tahoma, and the Echo Summit area. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at the time of the story.

Some of those recently added to last week's log:

8/21

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif.. - The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has updated the estimated closure time for US50 over Echo Summit.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The second of two pilot plan holiday weekends designed to help alleviate traffic congestion on Meyer's back roads will take place on Monday, September 2 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Holiday traffic from South Lake Tahoe that heads west on Highway 50 over Echo Summit has been directed by apps like Waze and Google Maps to take side roads as the quickest route home. The redirected routes go through neighborhoods and block residents from their homes.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The new roundabout in Meyers on Highway 50 at the base of Echo Summit has already been partially open but on Thursday motorists will be able to use the complete roundabout as designed, including the westbound by-pass lane.

Final paving will be done Wednesday and Thursday night so the bypass lane of the roundabout should be open by Thursday morning. The speed limit in the area is posted at 20 mph through the roundabout, 30 mph as one exits to the west and 40 mph will remain the speed limit through Meyers.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Highway 50 over Echo Summit may close up to 14 days this September to allow the Caltrans contractor to install new girders and demolition work on the existing bridge structure.

There will be two meetings to inform the public of the potential closure and detour (see attached map). Local residents and businesses will be issued passes to use Johnson Pass Road as a detour during the closure, which if in place would be toward the end of the month. More information on that will be provided at the meetings and not before.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - One man was transported to Barton Hospital after a single-car crash at the "Y" Friday evening.

The driver said he was experiencing a panic attack as he was stopped at the intersection of Highway 50 and Emerald Bay Road, according to South Lake Tahoe Police Sgt. Jason Cheney. The driver was heading west on the highway and waiting to turn south onto Emerald Bay Road.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - After much discussion, the South Lake Tahoe City Council voted to sign Memos of Understanding (MOUs) with the Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) and two developers to build affordable housing in the community.

Pacific Development Group and United Housing Corporation have identified properties, some which have already been purchased, to build housing for those who would be displaced by the proposed US 50 South Shore Community Revitalization Project which would move the highway through the Rocky Point neighborhood off Pioneer Trail.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There are still about two months left of scheduled roadwork around the Lake Tahoe Basin before winter hiatus. The following are the Caltrans projects in the Lake Tahoe Basin and El Dorado County:

LONG-TERM PROJECTS

U.S. Highway 50 (El Dorado County): Work continues on a $5.2 million project to upgrade metal beam guardrail and construct concrete barriers at 89 locations from the Red Hawk Undercrossing to 1.9 miles west of the junction with State Route 89 in Meyers. Completion is expected in spring 2020.

7:00 p.m. Update: A fire along Highway 50 Wednesday burned 16 acres after being started when a truck towing a trailer caught fire after having a flat tire at 1:21 p.m. The El Dorado County Sheriff's Office evacuated some home in the area when winds took the flames from the highway in towards a neighborhood.

All residents have been allowed to go back home. Firefighters will stay at the scene overnight to patrol and watch for hotspots.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county. The following are calls that only pertain to the South and West Shore, including Meyers, South Lake Tahoe, Meeks Bay, Tahoma, and the Echo Summit area. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at the time of the story.

Some of those recently added to last week's log:

8/1

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A driver and his passenger escaped after leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase from the Heavenly Village area of South Lake Tahoe to Zephyr Cove, Nevada. They crashed their car into a guard rail and ran away.

On Sunday, August 4 an officer from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) attempted to make a traffic stop at 2:06 a.m. when the driver failed to yield and took off. A pursuit ensued into Douglas County, at times reaching high rates of speed. Six minutes later the suspect's car crashed into a guard rail on Highway 50 in Zephyr Cove.

LAKE TAHOE, Nev. - It's summertime, a beautiful time of year that brings with it perfect beach weather, something evident by the hundreds of cars parked along the roads around Lake Tahoe on a daily basis.

Two of those areas that bring the most vehicles full of beachgoers are Zephyr Cove and Round Hill Pines, two very popular Lake Tahoe spots. Drivers along the highway don't always slow down to speeds slower than the posted 45 mph, keeping it a dangerous stretch on busy beach days with car doors opening and people walking on the road with their coolers and beach gear.

SPOONER LAKE, Nev. — Join a park ranger on a guided, self-driven vehicle tour through the Spooner Backcountry of Spooner Lake State Park. We’ll follow the remnants of the historic Virginia Gold Hill Water Company flumes and pipes, and discuss Comstock history as we enjoy the day driving through the scenic park backcountry.

2:20 p.m. update - Highway 50 is open with no controls at Kyburz.

KYBURZ, Calif. - If you are traveling over Echo Summit today you may want to take a different route, or plan on extra time on the road.

The California Highway Patrol has responded to a major crash between two SUVs in the Whitehall Canyon area near Kyburz. Initial reports show a car turning onto the highway was struck at about 11:30 a.m. and the aftermath is causing a big delay with eastbound traffic starting at Bridle Veil Falls.

At least one person has been transported.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A 13-year-old boy on a Lime Scooter was hit by a car Tuesday night as he was riding it in the fast lane on Highway 50 in South Lake Tahoe.

According to South Lake Tahoe Police Department Sgt. Nick Carlquist, a group of about one-half dozen kids on scooters were heading west on the highway in the #2 lane, or better known as the slow lane of the road. They completely took the lane over said Carlquist, forcing drivers into the other lanes and causing a traffic hazard.

We’ve finally settled into a spectacular Tahoe summer. Like a shooting star, summer is fleeting, with the Fourth of July already in our review mirror. With all the outdoor recreation that summer affords us here at Lake Tahoe, here’s one more experience worth noting.

If you’re looking for a stunningly beautiful bike ride or a perfect pathway on which to take a walk, the new East Shore Tahoe Trail is unparalleled. Dignitaries recently gathered to celebrate the trail’s grand opening at the end of June. The path is a three-mile link between the south end of Incline Village and Sand Harbor.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - In an attempt to address traffic concerns on side roads in the Meyers area, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and El Dorado County (EDC) conducted a test and put up two road closures on Sunday, July 7, 2019.

Barriers were placed at the intersections of Highway 50 and both Sawmill and North Upper Truckee roads in an attempt to keep westbound holiday traffic out of the neighborhoods and on the highway. In addition, they were also evaluating the traffic backup on both roads and the routing of traffic by directional apps like Waze and Google.

7/9 UPDATE: This report has been updated to include lane closures that were added after press time.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The California Department of Transporation (Caltrans) is working on roads at Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County this week. Here is a list of both long-term and short-term projects in the area.

LONG-TERM PROJECTS

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There is more to do in South Lake Tahoe on the 4th of July than watch one of the top fireworks shows in the west.

To start off the holiday, the City of South Lake Tahoe is organizing the annual 4th of July parade down Highway 50 from Ski Run Boulevard to Bijou Community Park on Al Tahoe Boulevard starting at 10:00 a.m.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county. The following are calls that only pertain to the South and West Shore, including Meyers, South Lake Tahoe, Meeks Bay, Tahoma, and the Echo Summit area. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at the time of the story.

Some of those recently added to last week's log:

6/19

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Eldorado National Forest crews have begun a prescribed fire on 143 acres of understory four miles northwest of Kirkwood. This fire is along the northern ridge above Caples Creek.

The resulting smoke has been seen in the southwestern portion of Lake Tahoe, drawing concern of many in the area. Smoke will continue to be seen from SR88 and Highway 50 for the next two days.

Because of the prescribed burn area, part of Hay Flat Trail will be closed.

Update 4:30pm: Highway 50 has reopened.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A crew working on the new Highway 50 project struck a gas line Tuesday at 2:44 p.m., prompting evacuations of businesses at 2717 Lake Tahoe Blvd.

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue has two engines and a battalion chief at the scene, and as of 3:30 p.m. they are waiting for Liberty Utilities to arrive to shut off the power. According to SLTFR Battalion Chief Karl Koeppen, there is a large electrical box adjacent to the gas line and they wanted power clamped off before addressing the gas issue.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The California Tahoe Conservancy (CTC) board voted Thursday to spend $500,000 to start planning for improved beach access, stormwater improvement, and shoreline stabilization along part of the South Lake Tahoe shoreline that once housed the Alta Mira Building.