Multiple mudslides on Highway 50; Reopening delayed until Monday at earliest

Submitted by paula on Sun, 02/12/2017 - 10:19am

7:00 p.m. update - Caltrans is advising motorists that U.S. Highway 50 in the Kyburz area will remain closed at least through Monday night and potentially longer due to multiple mud slides.

Caltrans and an emergency contractor are working on three slides in a 12-mile area, and several smaller slides are also active near the highway.

The first slide is near Sand Flat and came down on Friday. It covered all four lanes of traffic. The second slide, which is between Whitehall and Kyburz, came down Saturday afternoon. It is a smaller slide but on a steep slope with difficult access. Caltrans and its emergency contractor are working from the top down with an excavator to bring the loose material to the road for clean-up.

The third slide is two miles east of Kyburz and has been slipping for the last few days. It came down Saturday afternoon. It is in a narrow two-lane section and is about 400 feet long. The slope is a mix of sand and boulders with little cohesion.

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5:45 p.m. update - Highway 50 at Ice House and Kyburz will be opened at 6:00 p.m. Monday night if all goes as planned according to Caltrans. Not only did they have to clean up mud and rocks from the initial slide at Ice House Rd., but more slides near Kyburz along Highway 50.

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4:00 p.m. update- Caltrans has not yet given an update to their earlier news and the date/time of reopening of Highway 50 at Ice House and Kyburz has not been given.

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Caltrans will not be opening Highway 50 west of Echo Summit on Sunday. They are making an updated announcement at noon.

There was another mudslide at Kyburz that crews are also working on. The road is open for those who live on the route with proof of residency.

The other major route taking travelers out of Lake Tahoe, I80, is down to one lane westbound due to mudslide work. Expect major delays from the state line to Truckee according to Caltrans.

The other route, SR88, still has chain controls up near Silver Lake.

Stay tuned for updates.