Main roads to Tahoe open with some delays on Highway 50 in El Dorado County
Caltrans is advising motorists to expect delays on U.S. Highway 50 in El Dorado County for emergency repair work in three locations.
The highway in Silver Fork between Weber Mill Road and Wildwood Way will be under daytime one-way reversing traffic controls Monday through Saturday for the next two weeks or more in order to have two new culverts installed under the highway and a drainage inlet cleared. Work began Wednesday.
A section of the No. 2 westbound lane in Fresh Pond will closed beginning Thursday in order to stabilize the slope off the highway. This is a four-lane section of Highway 50 and work will be performed behind k-rail.
In addition, a section of the highway at Bridal Veil Falls will continue to be reduced to one lane in each direction for the next several months as work continues to stabilize the slope off the westbound side and to build a new 600-foot retaining wall.
With Lake Tahoe experiencing a winter of epic proportions, approaching 630 inches of snow since November, travel safety remains the most important aspect for a comfortable trip, along with recommendations for planning, common sense and dependable information sources.
Herculean efforts by Caltrans and Nevada Department of Transportation has allowed access to Lake Tahoe which currently remains clear and safe despite the record setting snowfall in early 2017.
“Work continues this week on US-50 east of Bridal Veil Falls. Traffic is still restricted to one lane in both directions, but is flowing freely. There is fresh snow on the mountain so please be cautious and drive safe,” reported the California Highway Patrol Placerville office.
“The roads have been in great shape the past 24 hours as Caltrans District 3 continues to clean up from storms and Emerald Bay has re-opened,” reported the California Highway Patrol on its Facebook page on Tuesday. “Make sure to slow down and move over for emergency vehicles and highway workers.”
Tahoe South Road Conditions
UPDATE CA-50: Caltrans is advising motorists to expect delays on U.S. Highway 50 in El Dorado County for emergency repair work in three locations.
The highway in Silver Fork between Weber Mill Road and Wildwood Way will be under daytime one-way reversing traffic controls Monday through Saturday for the next two weeks or more in order to have two new culverts installed under the highway and a drainage inlet cleared.
A section of the #2 (outside) westbound lane in Fresh Pond will closed beginning Thursday in order to stabilize the slope off the highway. This is a four-lane section of Highway 50 and work will be performed behind k-rail.CA-89: Closed from Emerald Bay State Park to Bliss State Park /Emerald Bay/ (El Dorado Co) - due to snow - motorists are advised to use an alternate route.
CA-88: No traffic restrictions are reported for this area.
SR 207: No traffic restrictions are reported for this area.
SR 431: No traffic restrictions are reported for this area.
North Lake Tahoe Road Conditions
I-80: No traffic restrictions are reported for this area.
CA-89: No traffic restrictions are reported for this area.
CA-267: No traffic restrictions are reported for this area.
CA-16 E: Closed at Rumsey Canyon / in Rumsey (Yolo County) due to a mudslide. Motorists are advised to use an alternate route.
CA-49: 1-way controlled traffic from 5 miles north to 5.2 miles north of Nevada City (Nevada County) due to a slide. 1-way controlled traffic from Yuba Pass Summit to Sattley (Sierra County) due to flood damage repairs
SR 431: No traffic restrictions are reported for this area.
Current Conditions / Forecast
Tahoe South does not expect precipitation until Saturday morning with possible accumulations of five to nine inches of snow. Snow is expected Sunday with possible accumulations of four to eight inches.
North Tahoe does not expect any precipitation until Saturday morning. Five to eight inches of snow is predicted on Saturday; one to three inches on Sunday.
Road Resources
When storm cycles are present, travelers are encouraged to gather as much information as possible before departing. Transportation and law enforcement authorities recommend waiting until a storm passes through before hitting the road. Motorists can check conditions with Caltrans www.dot.ca.gov and Nevada Department of Transportation http://nvroads.com. For real-time traffic information and to map your location, the QuickMap App from CalTrans is available for download. Keep in mind that GPS and maps applications on mobile devices may not be updated so monitor updates directly from the source.
Driving Tips
Plan to take it slower, allow more time for travel and check conditions frequently as they may change. A list of supplies to pack is also suggested, including tire chains for any vehicle without 4-or all-wheel drive, flashlight, water, snacks, blankets, and reflective clothing in case of delays on the highway. A complete list is available at: http://www.dot.ca.gov/cttravel. Many road incidents can be avoided by reducing speed. While 4-wheel drive allows vehicles to more effectively negotiate snowy conditions, braking still takes longer. Take it slower and block more time to get to Lake Tahoe.
During snowfall, a fleet of and state local snow removal vehicles work around the Lake Tahoe Basin to keep roads clear and safe for travel.
Travel by Air and Shuttle
Flights into Reno Tahoe International Airport are available from Oakland, San Francisco and San Jose for as low as $39 each way. For travelers who forego auto travel, a variety of private and public shuttles depart from RTIA and are accessible to both North and South Tahoe.
South Tahoe Airporter provides nine daily round-trip shuttle departures from RTIA baggage claim to six properties near the Heavenly Village in South Shore. Go here for more information.
North Lake Tahoe Express offers eleven round-trip shuttle rides per day, departing from RTIA baggage claim. Drop-off locations include various neighborhoods and mountain properties. Learn more here.
Visitor Information
Get the latest information on Tahoe events, activities, dining and entertainment at www.tahoesouth.com and www.gotahoenorth.com.
Motorists should check highway conditions before traveling in the mountains by using QuickMap or calling 1-800-427-ROAD. Caltrans will issue updates on Twitter and Facebook.
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