After two years that involved multiple seasons of road work between the top of US-50 West Spooner Summit and Stateline at Lake Tahoe, the Nevada Department of Transportation announced Friday that highway improvements are, this time, completed with the exception of final touchups and cleanup efforts with very minimal traffic impacts.
Beginning in April 2025, the project resurfaced just over 13 miles of US-50 West from the Stateline border with California to the Spooner Summit Trailhead near the US-50 and State Route 28 intersection.
The improvements provide a smoother, safer drive for the approximately 26,000 drivers who travel the busy stretch of highway daily, according to NDOT in a news release on Friday.
The following improvements were made:
- Repaved just over 13 miles of U.S. 50, an equivalent of 55 individual lane miles.
Approximately 98,000 tons of new asphalt was placed.
- Between Spooner Summit and Glenbrook, the double line median was expanded to two sets of double yellow lines with a four-foot separation between traffic directions to reduce potential head-on crashes and enhance safety.
- Between Roundhill Pines and Glenbrook crews utilized used a new, wider striping pattern along with centerline rumble to help reduce cross-over crashes.
- Installed 13 miles, or more than 220,000 feet, of Intelligent Traffic Systems (ITS) underground conduit line to further connect and power roadway cameras, road/weather information systems, traffic counters, traffic flow detectors, automated chain/snow tire control signage, and more.
- More than 2,000 feet of existing culvert pipes were reinforced, 52 new storm drain inlets, 1,300 feet of new storm sewer culvert pipe, and approx. 38,000 feet of new roadside curb and gutter installed, helping protect Lake Tahoe clarity by channeling stormwater into designated drainage systems.
- Upgraded guardrail and barrier wall to enhance safety.
- Drainage improvements installed to reduce roadway water ponding.
