Closure of Echo Summit may be closer to mid-October

9.6.19 Update: At this time Echo Summit will be closed for 14 days starting on October 18, 2019.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Due to a delay in receiving needed supplies, the Caltrans contractor working on the US 50 Echo Summit Sidehill Viaduct project will be moving their expected full road closure date.

Caltrans today told the South Lake Tahoe City Council it is looking more like mid-October for their closing the artery between the lake and Sacramento for up to 14 days. They said the actual closure date is still a moving target.

Representatives from Caltrans and the project is holding two public meetings this week to alert the public of their plans:

Placerville Town Hall
549 Main St., Placerville, CA 95667
Wednesday, Sept. 4 from 5:30 p.m. -6:30 p.m.

California Conservation Corps building
1949 Apache Ave., South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
Thursday, Sept. 5 from 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

There is a Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) imposed October 15 grading deadline and Caltrans will have to apply for an extension as some grading is still needed during the final stage. Workers also need to complete work before colder temperatures return to the basin. The project is contracted to be finished prior to Memorial Day of 2020 and any work that is needed after that would be completed whenever the contractor could fit it in.

The goal is to get the bridge replacement project done in October.

"If you can accommodate October it’s a win-win," said South Lake Tahoe Mayor Brooke Laine said of the new road closure dates.

Johnson Pass Road passes will be issued to locals that need to travel this road just like during the 2011 wall project. Caltrans will be advertising the route people will have to take when traveling - SR49 to Jackson and up SR88 and then SR89. They cannot officially suggest Mormon immigrant Trail (between US50 and SR88) as a bypass route as they are not allowed to detour to a non-state highway.