Echo Summit bridge replacement may impact travel to South Lake Tahoe

Cal Trans will make a presentation on replacing or rehabilitating an aging Echo Summit bridge during Tuesday's South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting.

The planned Echo Summit Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Project has been created because weather, age and use have caused severe deck cracking, extensive rust in the reinforcing steel and concrete cracking and spalling (breaking off into smaller pieces).

The bridge was built in 1939, is 30.76 feet wide and has three spans over Echo Summit.

City Council will hear about the six possible project alternatives including one alternative that will replace the whole bridge in 200-230 days over two building seasons under one-way traffic during eight hour shifts. Another alternative will replace the whole bridge in 160-190 days over two building seasons with one way traffic during ten hour shifts. While one alternative is to do nothing, one calls for full road closure for 20-50 days and 90-120 days of one-way traffic over one building season.

Construction isn't scheduled to start until Spring of 2019.

On February 26, 2015, Cal Trans will hold a public meeting to present the project's Environmental Impact Report. They are asking for public comment regarding the anticipated impacts and studies. This will be held at City Council Chambers from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.