Traffic

With construction started in the U.S. 50 Cave Rock tunnel, travelers need to know restrictions now that both lanes of traffic go through the eastbound tunnel.

Because of the slope of the interior to the tunnel, no oversized vehicles or oversized loads are allowed (wider than 8'6" and taller than 14'6"). Most buses and RVs are smaller than these restricted sized, and have been able to travel through the tunnel safely according to Meg Ragonese, Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) Public Information Officer.

Many people within the community show reluctance toward the loop road project, believing it would disturb their daily routines, yet the benefits of the road clearly outweigh the downsides.

Our home of beautiful South Lake Tahoe is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the world. With around 4.3 million visitors in 2011, as well as certain main events and holidays where our city's population doubles and even triples. With this nonstop tourism occurring throughout South Lake Tahoe, it only makes sense to have a “downtown” area, which is what the loop road will provide. Despite the concerns of how the loop road will hurt our community, there are a lot of long term social and environmental benefits involved in this project.

Location

Sheriff Ron Pierini has announced the recent graduation of two Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputies from the State of Nevada Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Law Enforcement Academy.

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Deputies Jose Guerra and Bruce Jacobsen graduated from the academy on Thursday, May 12 after attending the academy at the State of Nevada Stewart Training Facility in Carson City for four months.

The Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) Board today unanimously approved a set of principles to clarify and guide the final design and implementation of the US Highway 50 South Shore Community Revitalization Project, also known as the Loop Road Project.

This plan that will answer some community member's concerns about the project by addressing right-of-way, housing, road construction, assistance and support for affected businesses, and continued community involvement.

LONG-TERM PROJECTS

State Route 89 (Placer County): Work continues on a $70.1 million project from Tahoma to just north of Granlibakken Road in Tahoe City that is upgrading storm water drainage and treatment systems, adding curb and gutter, resurfacing and realigning the road, adding new left-turn pockets and widening shoulders on an 8-mile stretch of the highway. Completion is expected by summer 2017.

LONG-TERM PROJECTS
State Route 89 (Placer County): Work has resumed on a $70.1 million project from Tahoma to just north of Granlibakken Road in Tahoe City that is upgrading storm water drainage and treatment systems, adding curb and gutter, resurfacing and realigning the road, adding new left-turn pockets and widening shoulders on an 8-mile stretch of the highway. Completion is expected by spring 2017.

A community group effort led by the Women of the Moose (WOTM) Chapter 408 in South Lake Tahoe is helping the homeless youth of the community

WOTM help out with the kids who are part of the Lake Tahoe Unified School District's McKinney Vento program. LTUSD receives an annual allocation of about $1,000 to purchase school supplies and help with bus transportation for its approximately 250 homeless students.

The following is a recap of activity the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to 179 calls between April 26 and May 2, 2016.

Calls Resulting in Arrests:

4/26
Drug Offense in the 2100 block of South Ave
Trespassing in the 3300 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
Drunk in Public in the 3900 block of Pioneer Trail
Robbery in the 1000 block of Al Tahoe Blvd

4/27
Trespassing in the 4000 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
Warrant in the 2100 block of South Ave
Warrant in the 900 block of Tata

4/28
non

The following is a recap of activity the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to 188 calls between April 12 and April 25, 2016.

During their April 19 meeting, the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the Lake Tahoe Unified School District’s Safe Routes to School Master Plan. With this approval, the Supervisors support plans to improve pedestrian and bicycle access and safety around Lake Tahoe schools through infrastructure upgrades, education and encouragement programs, and better enforcement of traffic laws.

The Carson City Sheriff’s Office participation in the Joining Forces Distracted Drivers event held from April 1 to April 20th resulted in the following:

1 arrest for DUI, 21 citations issued for cell phone use, 1 citation for an individual cutting their hair while driving, 2 citations for failure to yield to a pedestrian, 89 for speed, 19 stop sign and traffic light violations. In addition, 41 citations were issued for other traffic related violations.

The following is a recap of activity the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to 188 calls between April 5 and April 11, 2016.

Calls Resulting in Arrests:

4/5
Driving on a suspended/revoked license at Stateline Ave and Manzanita Ave

4/6
Spousal Abuse in the 3700 block of Blackwood Rd
Drunk in Public in the 2100 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
"Other" Misdemeanor at Lake Tahoe Blvd & Friday Ave
DUI in the 3600 block of Spruce Ave

4/7
Petty Theft in the 4000 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd

To prepare for the $57 million Caltrans project that will start in South Lake Tahoe in 2017, Southwest Gas is continuing their gas-line relocation work along Highway 50 from the "Y" to Al Tahoe Blvd this spring and summer.

The construction work will be completed during both daytime and nighttime hours and Southwest Gas officials told South Tahoe Now there will be no major bottlenecks that were prevalent last summer.

"There will be less lane restrictions and improved traffic flow," said Stephen Miller, of Southwest Gas Corporate Communications.

The Amgen Tour of California South Lake Tahoe Organizing Committee is seeking 300 volunteers for the combined stages for men and women on Thursday, May 19, 2016.

The men’s elite race Stage 5 will begin in Lodi, Calif. at 10 a.m., and finish around 3:45 p.m. at Heavenly Mountain Resort’s California Base Lodge in South Lake Tahoe totaling 132.4 miles. The women’s Stage 1 will start at 10:50 a.m. and finish approximately at 2:00 p.m. at Heavenly, totaling 72.7 miles.

SHORT-TERM PROJECTS

U.S. Highway 50 (El Dorado County) from Chiapa Drive to Kyburz Avenue: Motorists can expect intermittent full highway closures at various locations from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for survey work.

U.S. Highway 50 (El Dorado County) from Truckee Drive to Rubicon Trail/Carson Avenue in South Lake Tahoe: Eastbound and westbound motorists can expect the #2 lane and right shoulder closed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday for utility work.

Construction details of this summer's project at Cave Rock will be revealed during a Lake Tahoe community meeting on Thursday, April 14 in the Zephyr Cove Elementary multipurpose room from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) is hosting the public meeting to tell residents about the project that will enhance traveler safety on U.S. 50 in the Cave Rock area.

LONG-TERM PROJECTS
State Route 89 (Placer County): Work is in winter suspension on a $70.1 million project from Tahoma to Granlibakken Road in Tahoe City that is upgrading storm water drainage and treatment systems, adding curb and gutter, resurfacing and realigning the road, adding new left-turn pockets and widening shoulders on an 8.5-mile stretch of the highway. Completion is expected by spring 2017.

On April 7 and April 20, officers from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department, El Dorado County Sheriff's Office and California Highway Patrol will be especially vigilant for distracted drivers on local roads as part of a joint effort across the state.

Although the officers' goals are not to write as many citations as possible, sometimes citations are necessary for drivers to understand the importance of focusing on their driving.

Distracted driving is such an important safety issue that April is recognized as National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

Visitors to Lake Tahoe’s east shore could soon have a new bike path linking upscale Incline Village to Nevada’s Sand Harbor State Park, but the price tag might induce sticker shock: $12.5 million for the 3-mile project.

Yes, that is more than $4 million a mile in taxpayer dollars for a 10-foot-wide bike path traveling just about 16,000 feet along the picturesque mountain lake.

Not to mention another $7 million to $9 million that the Nevada Transportation Department plans to spend in state gas taxes in conjunction with the project on related environmental and safety needs.

On Sunday, March 20, 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, March 20th

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

The California and Nevada Highway Patrol, South Lake Tahoe Police Department and the Douglas County Sheriff's Office are reminding everyone who celebrates St. Patrick’s Day that no one is immune from the consequences of drunk driving.

Drunk driving is a top problem for both states, and local law enforcement will be joining forces to boost enforcement efforts and initiating a impaired driving mobilization period from March 17 to March 31, 2016.

An officer from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department attempted to pull over a SUV Tuesday morning near the intersection of Carson Avenue and Lake Tahoe Blvd for a traffic violation. The driver of the vehicle, which was a black 2005 GMC Envoy, failed to pull over and led officers on a high speed chase eastbound on Lake Tahoe Blvd.

A witness said the cars looked to be going 80 mph. When they got to the area of Ski Run, officers lost site of the vehicle and its two occupants when they pulled back due to safety concerns, and the pursuit was terminated.

All day Sunday the traffic heading west out of South Lake Tahoe has been slow moving due to snow, stuck cars, avalanche controls and chain restrictions.

Even with a educational push by the City for travelers to not use the side roads as they travel home, roads such as Upper Truckee, Sawmill and Mandan were heavily traveled by drivers trying to find a quicker way home.

Chains or 4WD vehicles with snow tires are required on higher elevation roads tonight, with chains or snows over SR-267.

Current road conditions.