Making the US50/SR28 intersection safer is part of NDOT's Lake Tahoe plan
Submitted by admin on Wed, 08/16/2023 - 8:07am
LAKE TAHOE, Nev. - There have been two major crashes at the intersection of US50 and SR28 on Spooner Summit in recent weeks, one of those crashes claiming the life of a 61-year-old man from Washington. Many are calling for a safer intersection in order to prevent more tragic crashes and further loss of life.
The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) has created the US50 East Shore Corridor Management Plan (CMP) after years of planning and meeting with stakeholders and the public. The plan is to cover possible safety improvements along the 13-mile stretch of US50 from the SR28 intersection to the Nevada/California state line.
On average, more than 100 crashes occur every year on this corridor, one-third of which are documented to have speed as a contributing factor, according to NDOT. Much of the corridor exceeds statewide average crash rates for similar facilities.
"NDOT has responsibility over the operation and planning of state highways, including U.S. 50. Transportation safety and efficiency are NDOT’s top priorities," said Meg Ragonese of NDOT. "These vital transportation goals, as well as a desire to support quality of life and other community needs, are reflected in the U.S. 50 Tahoe East Shore Corridor Management Plan.
In the plan, the corridor is split into six segments, and Segment 1 is US50 from Spooner Summit down to Glenbrook. There are several proposals in each segment to create a safer roadway.
Segment 1 experiences significant speeds and speed differences. The CMP recommends slightly reduced lane widths from 12 feet to 11 feet to incorporate four feet of median separation between opposing directs of travel.
There is also a conceptual roundabout in the plan. Left turns between US50 and SF28 have been a consistent public concern. A proposal in the CMP is to convert the existing intersection into a future roundabout that would make left turns safer and easier, as well as help slow westbound traffic as it approaches the long downgrade toward the lake.
There is a conceptual vista parking area on the highway as well, to allow people to stop for the view in a paved location.
There is no schedule at this time for when a roundabout, or whatever safety plan is deemed best for the intersection, would be installed.
NDOT is working on Segment 4 this year with the addition of a stoplight at Warrior Way, and the elimination of highway parking at Zephyr Cove.
In order to try out an idea of the CMP, NDOT had proposed to temporarily restripe the section of US50 from two lanes to one lane in each direction, with a middle turn lane from south of Zephyr Cove Resort to north of Round Hill Pines Beach Resort. This would allow for a two-way middle turn lane for those turning to and from driveways and side streets. A two-way middle turn would alleviate other dangerous areas along the corridor where vehicles travel out of their lanes and hit oncoming traffic, or cars coming from side streets are unable to safely make it onto the highway.
This temporary striping proposal was presented to the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners, but due to feedback, NDOT does not plan to install the month-long demonstration striping this year. Instead, they will first gather more input on the demonstration project through a public survey, as well as continued stakeholder and public outreach, prior to finalizing any corridor plans.
