City addressing complaints about Caltrans projects in South Lake Tahoe

There's an old joke about the seasons in Lake Tahoe: There are two seasons in Lake Tahoe. Winter, and Road Construction.

While the "winter" comment may not be as it once was, there is no question about "road construction" as it now goes from May through October.

Part of living in the mountains is sharing our best weather months with construction workers, road controls and traffic cones. Residents get that. But what drivers went through during the 2015 construction on highways 50 and 89 was not only inexcusable, it was preventable.

During Tuesday, October 20th's City Council meeting, two people spoke to the council about the roadwork situation.

"This summer was a mess," said Bruce Grego. When told that City staff had been talking to Caltrans and took several citizen complaint to the agency, Grego said, "we're not doing enough."

Many complaints have been lodged about the traffic controls created by the project's contractor.

Caltrans reached out to the community on several occasions to get feedback on their work projects, but they were very poorly attended. Councilmember JoAnn Conner suggested that more people get involved in the planning process so issues can be addressed and suggestions made prior to work starting.

The SW Gas line replacement project that jammed up much of Highway 50 between the "Y" and Al Tahoe Blvd. and caused much frustration this summer may seem small in comparison with what is coming.

A major, three-year long, $57 million project along the same stretch of Highway 50 will start in 2017. Caltrans will add a stop light at the intersection of Lodi Avenue and Lake Tahoe Blvd; widen the road to provide 6-foot shoulders on each side for Class II bike lanes; add bus pullouts so traffic is no longer held up and a whole list of improvements posted here.

At the community meeting held for that project, Councilmember Conner, South Tahoe Now and one member of the public showed up.

In four years, the 76-year-old bridges along the highway over Echo Summit will be replaced. Caltrans is expecting the environmental document to be completed next summer on the $9 million project, with construction to start in the summer of 2019.

Grego suggested the City get involved in the process so they can ensure projects start in May when the tourists aren't in town.

Another citizen spoke up, asking that Caltrans let the residents of nearby areas know when their street is going to block off, such as the experience this week for people living on Blue Lake Avenue. She said drivers frustrated with the traffic on Highway 50 used her street as a race track to get through, sometimes driving 40 mph in the 25 mph zone. She asked that the police department monitor the side streets for speeders during road construction on the main roads.

Public Works Director Ray Jarvis told Council he'd get together again with Caltrans and work out reported issues.