Caltrans finishes three Tahoe Basin road projects

Construction has wrapped up on three roadwork projects in and around the Lake Tahoe Basin, Caltrans reports Wednesday in a news release. The projects were designed to improve water quality and traffic safety in the region.
They included: Creating storm drain systems to keep pollutants from reaching the lake. Caltrans built 105 storm drain collection areas with over 329 inlets and paved shoulders on highways throughout the Tahoe Basin; Improving bike and pedestrian facilities where feasible. New bike and pedestrian pathways were built and some existing pathways were improved for local residents and visitors.
“The completion of these projects is a great environmental and traffic safety achievement,” said Caltrans District 3 Director Jody Jones. “Caltrans is proud to be a partner in helping improve the environmental quality of the Lake Tahoe Basin by reducing stormwater runoff, filtering out dirt, oil and litter with a robust drainage system. The improved bike lanes and pedestrian walkways will encourage alternative transportation around the lake.”

The completed projects in El Dorado and Placer Counties include:

U.S. Highway 50 at Echo Summit
Location: N. Echo Summit Road to Johnson Pass/Echo Summit Rd.
Purpose: Replaced deteriorated rock wall barrier, repaving, replaced drainage pipes, erosion control, and Roadway Weather Information Station (RWIS) equipment
2011: Completed

State Route 89 to U.S. Highway 50
Location: In El Dorado County from the Alpine County Line to U.S. 50/89
Purpose: Installed stormwater runoff drainage facilities, widened highway shoulders, constructed curbs and gutters (189 drainage inlets and 5 sand vaults)
2011: Completed

State Route 28 in Tahoe Vista – Final Phase
Location: Tahoe State Park to State Route 267; Chipmunk Street to CA/NV state line
Purpose: Water quality improvements and selected areas of re-pavement. Project included restriping to improve safety and converting shoulders to bike lanes (140 drainage inlets - 100 drainage systems)
2011: Completed

Additional projects that remain on schedule and are complete for the winter season also include:

State Route 267 near Northstar
Location: State Route 267 near Northstar Drive to near Brockway Summit
Purpose: Slope stabilization and shoulder paving to reduce runoff damage
2011- Spring 2012: winterized

U.S. Highway 50, South Lake Tahoe
Location: Trout Creek to Ski Run Boulevard in South Lake Tahoe
Purpose: Stormwater collection and treatment, widen shoulders, sidewalks, class II bike lanes, pedestrian lighting, traffic signals, landscaping
2011-13: winterized

These projects are scheduled for final completion in 2012 and 2013, respectively.

“We would like to thank the motorists for their patience and for allowing extra driving time in their already busy schedules,” said Jones. “These projects required reduced lanes at times, but the ultimate goals of improved lake water quality and traffic safety are worth the wait.”

All roads are open during winter operations. For up-to-date information on road conditions, please visit: www.TahoeRoads.com