Traffic on Highway 50 held for hours due to snow slide

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Traffic is being held in Meyers and Twin Bridges due to a snow slide on Echo Summit.

The slide occurred at approximately 3:00 p.m. and according to the CHP in Placerville, it covered some vehicles in the westbound lane. There has been a standstill line of traffic on Highway 50 through Meyers all afternoon and cars are still stopped there waiting for the road to reopen.

Because of the stopped traffic on Hwy 50 in Meyers, big rig trucks have been attempting to use North Upper Truckee Road to move over the summit, only to get stuck and block the roadway. The road is now closed to all traffic.

At 5:45 p.m., Caltrans told South Tahoe Now, "We hope to release traffic later this evening. We can't provide a specific ETO (estimated time of opening)."

CHP down in Placerville is trying to deal with cars on Pony Express Trail that travelers on the highway are using as an alternative way to Lake Tahoe during the closure.

They said this on their facebook page, "Pony Express Trail is not an appropriate detour nor route to get to South Lake Tahoe. STAY on 50 and GO WEST. 50 is closed over the summit."

It appears I80 is close to reopening at this hour.