Caltrans virtual ribbon cutting on $54.9M South Lake Tahoe project

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Due to restrictions on gathering in groups because of COVID-19, Caltrans created a virtual ribbon cutting and "thank you" video highlighting their four-year $52.9M water quality improvement project on Highway 50 in South Lake Tahoe.

The two-mile stretch from the Y to the Trout Creek Bridge includes a new drainage system to treat stormwater runoff before it enters Lake Tahoe and adjacent water bodies that discharge into the lake. The project also rebuilt the curbs, gutters, and sidewalks on both sides of the highway (Lake Tahoe Boulevard), bus pullouts and increased the roadway width to provide for Class II bike lanes.

They added new stoplights along US50 that are now synchronized from the Y to Carson Avenue. If one maintains the posted speed limit (40 mph) the lights are timed to be green the entire stretch.

Caltrans has constructed more than 20 EIP projects on state highways around Lake Tahoe, a total of a $561M investment. This Y to Trout Creek is the last major one scheduled for Caltrans in the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program.

In the attached video they thank all of their partners including the City of South Lake Tahoe, the community and all of the businesses that were impacted with construction for the last four years.