Drivers and beach goers share the highway in Lake Tahoe; More safety improvements ahead

LAKE TAHOE, Nev. - It's summertime, a beautiful time of year that brings with it perfect beach weather, something evident by the hundreds of cars parked along the roads around Lake Tahoe on a daily basis.

Two of those areas that bring the most vehicles full of beachgoers are Zephyr Cove and Round Hill Pines, two very popular Lake Tahoe spots. Drivers along the highway don't always slow down to speeds slower than the posted 45 mph, keeping it a dangerous stretch on busy beach days with car doors opening and people walking on the road with their coolers and beach gear.

In 2016 the U.S. Forest Service had a trail installed from Warrior Way to the stoplight at Zephyr Cove Beach to improve pedestrian safety and access and minimize impacts to the meadow and Zephyr Creek which surround the nearby stables. Some people walking from cars use this safe path but many still walk along, then run across, the four-lane Highway 50.

The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) put in No Parking signs for the first 150 feet from the stoplight but the rest of the area appears to be disarray of cars.

The scene is becoming much of the same at the entrance to Round Hill Pines, something NDOT has on their radar and will be addressing in the future.

"Safety is top priority, and NDOT reminds motorists to never park unsafely or illegally, including on roadside shoulders," said Meg Ragonese of NDOT.

If "No Parking" signs are not present, cars can park on the shoulder of the highway in these beach areas if all four tires are inside the white line.

A public meeting was held to address the situation at Round Hill Pines, both short term and longterm plans. Nothing has been released at this time.

Over at Cave Rock, NDOT addressed a dangerous area and installed ten new “no parking” signs making unpermitted parking illegal on U.S. 50 roadside shoulders and median between Cave Rock and just south of Cave Rock State Park. The Washoe Tribe has some permits to park in the area and they will continue to be allowed to do.

State Route 28 is always another roadside parking nightmare, with most spots occupied by mid-morning. A new three-mile-long multi-use path was recently completed from Ponderosa Ranch Road to Sand Harbor to help with safety and access.

NDOT has been working closely with partner agencies, including the Nevada Highway Patrol, to keep state highways as safe as possible, according to Ragonese. While additional parking restrictions are not currently planned for other areas of the U.S. 50 Tahoe corridor, NDOT and those partners will continue to closely evaluate any additional roadside parking prohibitions or enforcement which might be needed in the future.

One of those planned changes will be a new traffic signal at the intersection of U.S. 50 and Warrior Way to help provide safer access to and from the highway. NDOT is planning to bring together transportation partners and the community in a U.S. 50 Tahoe corridor study to develop the most needed future corridor upgrades. Within the coming five years, NDOT plans to rehabilitate and repave approximately 13 miles of U.S. 50 between the state line and Spooner Summit for a smoother and safer drive.

Ragonese said NDOT also welcomes community members to provide their feedback. They can receive road information and contact them at www.nevadadot.com or via e-mail at info@dot.nv.gov.