District: District 3 - Marysville
Contact: Steve Nelson
Phone: (530) 741-4566; (530) 701-9459
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
EL DORADO COUNTY – Caltrans and its contractor have resumed work on the U.S. Highway 50 Echo Summit Sidehill Viaduct Replacement Project after lifting winter suspension.
The $14.1 million project is replacing the existing bridge, which was built in 1939, with a structure that meets current seismic and safety standards. Construction started in May 2019 and is scheduled to be completed this year. This week daytime work is scheduled from 7.a.m to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to noon Friday with one-way reversing traffic control to prepare the work site.
Around-the-clock one-way traffic control is currently scheduled to start after Memorial Day weekend on Tuesday, May 26 and continue until May 31, after which Highway 50 is scheduled to be fully closed for up to two weeks until June 14 for bridge girder replacement work. Local residents and those with local business or employment needs can apply for an application to use Johnson Pass Road to detour around the work site during the full closure. Proof of residency or local employment is required. To apply, visit the Application Website.
Currently, traffic into South Lake Tahoe is restricted to only essential needs due to COVID-19. Should the travel ordinance by El Dorado County be lifted, a detour route will be advertised. The detour route is via Highway 16 in Sacramento or Highway 49 in Placerville, to Highway 88 and Highway 89 back to Highway 50. An alternate route is Interstate 80 (see map).
Due to travel volumes during the peak summer months, if this schedule can’t be met, the work will need to take place after Labor Day. Weather or other unexpected events may delay or prolong this work schedule. For more information on the project, visit Way2Tahoe on Twitter @way2Tahoe or on Facebook.