Big changes for Wye in North Lake Tahoe as iconic features removed

There are still trout in the Lake Tahoe Basin, but soon there will no longer the large trout sculpture that for years has greeting people to the town of North Lake Tahoe.

The iconic 21-foot trout sculpture has been sitting in the island intersection between State Route 89 and State Route 28 along with the Williamson Tree and Rotary Club flagpole.

The sculptor responsible for the trout sculpture wants it to remain exactly where it is, but that doesn't fall into plans for the SR89/Fanny Bridge Community Revitalization Project. He created it in the mid-1970s and donated it to the community. Tahoe Transportation District officials wanted to put the sculpture back into the new roundabout, but the artist says "no."

For now, the trout will be dismantled and stored in a warehouse until it's fate can be decided.

Starting Wednesday, the contractor will begin the removal process of the Williamson Tree, the Rotary Club flagpole and time capsule, along with the Trout Sculpture.

Removal of the island is necessary to make way for a new roundabout near Fanny Bridge. The $35 million Central Federal Lands Highway Division project is being managed by Tahoe Transportation District. When completed this fall, the SR89/Fanny Bridge Community Revitalization Project will have accomplished several goals, including improving pedestrian and cyclists’ safety, reducing traffic congestion to improve transit travel times and user experiences, provide two safety routes from the west shore, make the “wye” area more inviting for shopping and dining, add complete street enhancements to the portion of old 89/West Lake Blvd. that will become a local road, encourage economic development and revitalizing the community, rebuild the 87 year-old Fanny Bridge with sidewalks on both sides, improve reliability and connectivity with the new transit center, lesseng emissions by a reduction in vehicles idling in traffic and sediment run-off from graded storm water treatment.

The items removed:

The Williamson Tree will be relocated to the Williamson property located above the new rockery wall along SR 89 coming into Tahoe City from Truckee. Mr. Williamson approved this location.

The Rotary Club flagpole and time capsule will be stored and then relocated to the new island at the Wye Roundabout in front of Save Mart. Representatives of the Rotary Club approved this location.

The Trout Sculpture will be removed and will be stored. The sculpture needs to be dismantled to allow for the construction of the approved project design. Members of the project delivery team*, along with executives from the North Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce, have had numerous meetings over several years with the artist in an effort to secure a prominent location in the project area to relocate the statue.

The intent from the time the project was resurrected in 2011, approved in 2015, and to the start of construction in 2017 was, and is, to find a prominent location for the trout sculpture within the project area to continue to showcase the statue to the community and to visitors. At this time, no reasonable agreement has been made for a new location for the sculpture. Efforts to secure a new location are ongoing.

Work will take place throughout the week, both day and night. Details:

· Night work is conducted Sunday thru Thursday from 12 a.m. – noon.
· Day work is conducted Monday thru Friday for road and drainage work. 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
· Bridge work is conducted Monday thru Saturday from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.

*Expect up to 20-minute delays in the project area.

Construction Schedule Updates:

The Contractor has the following tasks scheduled for this week:

· Utility locating will take place throughout the project area. Expect traffic controls.
· Near the East roundabout located along West Lake Blvd near the entrance to the Transit Center traffic controls will be set; drainage work will start.
· Near the West roundabout located along SR 89 coming into Tahoe from Truckee underground utilities will be installed along with a storm drain – most of the work occurs behind temporary barrier rail, however some flagging is necessary for connections.
· New Truckee River Bridge – construction work on both abutments – no traffic impacts.
· In front of Caltrans Maintenance yard, grading and work on the new paved shared-use path will be happening – work occurring behind temporary barrier rail.
· Grading will continue on the new SR 89 alignment – no traffic impacts.

Please Note that Traffic Control Includes:

· Normal temporary lane closures utilizing flaggers with a maximum 20-minute delay.
· Flaggers are located at parking lot entrances to allow access.
· No businesses will be blocked.
· At the West Roundabout (near the Caltrans Maintenance Yard) K-Rail has been placed with reduced lane widths to 11-ft – same configuration as last year. K-Rail for the East Roundabout (near the Transit Center entrance) will also reduce lane widths to 11 feet.

Shared-Use Paths for Cyclists and Pedestrians:

· Detours will be set.
· No paths will be closed.