message signs

Now that we have all changed our clocks and experienced the first night of an early sunset it is time to understand what the end of Daylight Saving Time can do to drivers.

The time change may disrupt sleep patterns and affect the ability to concentrate and safely operate a motor vehicle, and to highlight the dangers of fatigued drivng, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) joins the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), and the National Sleep Foundation in recognizing Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, November 5-12, 2018.

Some of the Changable Message Signs (CMS) in California are down due to a transition to a new technology. These signs in South Lake Tahoe normally show how long it takes to get from Stateline to the Y, and then to Placerville, along with other stops.

Caltrans had to break down one system before the next could be implemented.

The South Lake Tahoe signs should be working in about two weeks according to Caltrans officials. Other signs in the county should be back up in one week.

The following is a reprint of a story South Tahoe Now carried on the 4th of July weekend in 2015. With the anticipated traffic on roads headed out of the Lake Tahoe basin on Tuesday, we felt this information would be helpful.

Three new message signs were unveiled in South Lake Tahoe this week, just in time for the holiday weekend. Since the fourth of July is a big tourist draw, it is the perfect time to test out all the message signs can provide to those on the road.

The Transportation Division of El Dorado County’s Community Development Agency will implement full closures of both directions of U.S. 50 between El Dorado Hills Boulevard and Bass Lake Road, as well as closures of the Latrobe Road on-ramp to eastbound U.S. Highway 50, the Bass Lake Road on-ramp to westbound U.S. Highway 50, and White Rock Road between Valley View Parkway and Entrada Circle. Closures are as follows:

Eastbound Closures on Sunday Morning, February 21

Eastbound lanes from Latrobe Road to Bass Lake Road will be closed from 6:00 am to 8:00 am.

California continues to experience high numbers of motorcycle-involved collision deaths and injuries, and because of this the California Highway Patrol (CHP) has been awarded a grant to promote motorcycle safety and awareness.

The goal of "Have a Good Ride II" is to reduce the number of motorcycle-involved fatal and injurty traffic collisions statewide.

When CalTrans unveiled the three new message board signs in South Lake Tahoe before the 4th of July weekend, many were appreciative of the head's up on travel times over Echo Summit.

Highway 50 through El Dorado Hills will be closed early Sunday morning as the county's transportation division continues work on the Silva Valley Interchange Project. They will be blasting on the north side of the freeway.

There will be full closures of both directions of U.S. 50 between El Dorado Hills Boulevard and Bass Lake Road, as well as closures of the Latrobe Road on-ramp to eastbound U.S. Highway 50, the Bass Lake Road on-ramp to westbound U.S. Highway 50, and White Rock Road between Valley View Parkway and Entrada Circle.

Closures are as follows:

Visitors in South Lake Tahoe this weekend should plan on staying in town longer Sunday so they aren't affected by major road work in El Dorado Hills. Travelers headed to the South Shore will need to be prepared as well. Early morning closures of Highway 50 will affect both lanes of traffic between South Lake Tahoe and Sacramento.

The section of Highway 50 between El Dorado Hills Blvd and Bass Lake Road will be closed between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. on three Sundays in order to allow blasting for a new highway interchange project.

On June 28, July 13 and July 20 traffic will be diverted off of the highway since it will be closed i both directions.