Officials pump up benefits of cycling event, Hwy. 50 closure
By Kathryn Reed
STATELINE — It was part informational session and part cheerleading rally as more than 60 people gathered to hear about what could be the convergence of the start of North America’s largest road bike race and the main artery to the South Shore being closed.
A Caltrans rep and consultant from its hired public relations firm started the Thursday night meeting at Horizon hotel-casino with a brief overview of the plans to soon close Echo Summit in order to replace the dilapidated rock wall.
That was followed by an enthusiastic talk from Alison Green, marketing coordinator with Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority, about the Amgen Tour de California.
With predictions of 35,000 people being on the South Shore for the 10:30am May 15 start of the multi-day cycling event, it could be a scenic inconvenience if spectators have to come to the area some other way than Highway 50.
Deanna Shoopman, Caltrans Tahoe basin outreach coordinator, was adamant and repetitive in saying no date has been set for when the highway will be closed. When it is, though, it will be off-limits for two weeks solid, 24 hours a day. After that, it will be subject to delays for up to six weeks.
B Gorman, executive director of Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce, spoke of her experience of traveling between Tahoe and the Bay Area every weekend before moving to South Lake Tahoe. She said she always found it faster during heavy traffic – like what the Highway 50 one-way traffic will be like – to go via Highway 88 by Kirkwood. Plus, she added, it’s a great route on a motorcycle.
One glimmer of hope for workers who commute between the South Shore and locales on the other side of the closure is Shoopman will know by Monday afternoon if those people will be granted a permit to get through the construction area.
The rock wall at Echo Summit that will be replaced. Photos/LTN
“We know it will not start until (at least) the first week of May,” Shoopman said of the initial two-week, 24-hour a day closure.
The good news is Heavenly Mountain Resort and Sierra-at-Tahoe will be able to stay open through Easter weekend knowing skiers and employees can get to the mountains.
Shoopman was also emphatic in stating the decision to close will be based on having a 10-day window of clear weather.
Cyclists will also be banned for the first two weeks while work is being done.
When it comes to the Tour de California, some firsts are being set with it starting in Tahoe. This is the highest elevation start, riders make two passes through the start area, and it’s the first time Nevada is part of the event. The other first is having 19 professional teams compete – the largest number in the event’s six-year history.
The eight-day race ends in Thousands Oaks, headquarters of Amgen, the tour sponsor.
The Tahoe portion starts in Stateline with riders leaving near the entrance of MontBleu casino May 15. They are expected to average about 28 mph, finishing the 72-mile loop about 1pm, and then ending the first stage at Northstar-at-Tahoe. The next day the riders take off from Squaw Valley as they head south through California.
One audience member asked what happens if it snows May 15. Gorman said the race coordinators have a contingency plan they have not shared with her.
Alison Green talks April 14 about the Tour de California.
It’s expected to be one big party along Highway 50 from Stateline to the Y. The LTVA’s Green said there is talk of having deejays on opposite sides of the street competing to get the crowds excited and keep them entertained while they wait for the cyclists to ride through.
“The best thing to do that day is park somewhere and then get out on your feet,” Green said.
The roads involved with the race will have rolling closures as the cyclists come through, which could cause delays of 30 minutes. This also means BlueGo buses will not be running their usual routes.
It will be up to private property owners – which is what the bulk of Highway 50 is except for Linear Park and the eventual Lakeview Commons site – do when it comes to allowing parking for non-customers and activities on their property.
Lauren Thomaselli, events coordinator for the city, said a map is being prepared of all the events along the cycling route on the South Shore.
A slew of events are being planned for 10 days before the pros take to the road.
The April 14 informational meeting replaced the annual tourism conference the South Shore chamber and LTVA have been putting on.
One of the things that kept being talked about was businesses should tap into the spectator demographic – ages 25-45 – because they travel with full wallets.
More information about the road closure is on this website.
Information about the cycling event is here.
We’ll see if the hype and optimism by our marketing and tourism folks translates into 35,000 (hope this does not include the cyclists and their teams who are being comped) new people in town. Fingers crossed but realistically its 50/50 at best. Its a little disappointing that only 60 people showed up for this big event.
Also wonder what CalTrans thinks about their staff camping under 20 feet of snow and boulders while they work.
No way 35000. Pipe dreams
A little sarcasm: surely closing roads will help our visitors appreciate Tahoe and enhance their experience. The traffic just isn’t bad enough.
PR and Marketing folks led the meeting and I admire their optimism. Thus far, it’s all conjecture. Let’s take a look at the end of May and see how it all went.
You’ve got to be kidding me! Our tax dollars pay for a pr firm?! And the main artery to our community is going to be closed during the event?! Sorry B, but that other route is a lot longer! Throw in the fact that much of the event takes place on North Shore, many tourists will just go up there to check out the event!
Good try at bringing the event to town! Some people will still come to South Shore to check it out. But Chamber you want to earn your membership fees, get CalTrans to put off the work until next year (the road will held up fine until then, they’re just trying to hurry up spending our tax dollars!). That’s the only way South Tahoe will get maximum exposure and return on investment with the event!
Another part of the value of this event that should not be overlooked is the exposure and media coverage the destination is getting. This event will benefit the destination long after its gone.
Hmmm, lets host one of the biggest organized sporting events in California to help jumpstart our season. BUT WAIT….lets shut down the main access point that would enable the spectators to easily come to Tahoe to watch the event and support our town. Something is not right here. I agree with the previous poster, what’s not to stop them from simply heading over 80 from Sac to watch it from the North Shore?? I’m sure the North Shore will be thanking us for all we did to push more tourists that way.C’mon guys, can’t we get with the program here?
Can’t wait to see the TV cameras following the riders catch those awesome views of the run-down motels, strip malls and especially the plywood on the old Micass/Millers outpost building at the Y.
The effort was good, the win was secured and the value is TBD. Given the state of the town, the hwy closing, and minimal community support… we’ll have to ante up twice as much to get this event back next year.
By the way, who gets the credit or lack of if we get half of the 35,000 people the LTVA is projecting? People have resigned for making predictions as bold as this and then coming up short. Someone’s crediblity is on the line here.
Don’t forget all the gas stations raising prices to help stimulate their pockets. $4.79 a gallon and rising
I just googled “Amgen Lake Tahoe” there were 24,000 results. Again the media value should not be overlooked.
It seems that Cal-Trans has been working on the Echo Summit job for 3 years. Then the brains of South Lake Tahoe schedule this event when they knew the project was going ahead. Move the event until later on! If they want it in a slow season have it aftet Labor Day.
Come on people! The tourist season doesn’t really start here until early June. The weather is too sketchy. Cal Trans will surely do the work after the Amgen, and before Memorial Day. Better weather, better business, it is a win-win.
Just tossing this back in to the mix … We all do remember that this is only a one-year deal at this point, right? Next year’s start location has already been confirmed, and it’s not Tahoe. We need to do everything possible to put our best foot forward, or this may be the last time this event comes to Tahoe.
Boat has already sailed. I hear North Shore is pitching for the following year as the start point and has no plans to include south shore other than a drive by.
The problem with doing the work after Amgen is that according to CalTrans, after closing the road for 2 weeks, they’ll need it to be one-lane for the next 6! weeks. So if they do it after Amgen, we’ll have a one-lane highway for July 4th! Do I need to explain the problem with that?