Heading west from Lake Tahoe? Major road project on US-50 in Camino

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - Caltrans is alerting motorists of reduced lanes on U.S. Highway 50 starting next week as part of an ongoing safety improvement project in the Camino area of El Dorado County.

This $55 million project involves installing a continuous concrete median barrier on Highway 50 from Still Meadows Road to Carson Road that will eliminate left-hand turns onto the highway from surface streets. A new undercrossing is being built to provide access north and south of the highway. The project also includes drainage improvements and a wildlife undercrossing.

Starting Monday, June 14, Highway 50 will be reduced to one lane in each direction during the week as work on drainage and the median barrier is being conducted behind the k-rail. The k-rail will be removed and the highway back open to four lanes for weekend traffic. This work will start on the west end of the project at Still Meadows Road and the lane reductions are expected to continue through August.

Caltrans is partnering with the El Dorado County Department of Transportation on this project and the county is providing $7.3 million in funding for local road improvements. Completion is expected in the fall of next year.

Caltrans and the County will be holding a public meeting on Thursday, June 24 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Camino Seventh Day Adventist Church to provide an update on the project, which started in the fall of 2020.