Echo Summit officially closed for at least 10 days

Echo Summit closed at noon today. Access to the South Shore via Highway 50 is cutoff for 10 to 14 days while Caltrans replaces the rock retaining wall.

Highway 50 is open from the west to near the top of the summit so places like Echo Lakes can be accessed. It’s closed at the base of the summit in Meyers on the east side.

The sign seems to imply Caltrans is encouraging computing while driving. Photo/LTN

Highway 50 will be open with no restrictions on Memorial Day weekend.

Expect the alternate routes to add an hour of travel.

Suggested routes from the Bay Area and Central Valley are:

• From Sacramento: Exit at Power Inn Road and take Highway 16 east to Highway 49 south, at Highway 88 in Jackson, turn left (east). Take that to Highway 89 and turn left again (north), and follow it back to Highway 50 in South Lake Tahoe.

• From Placerville: Exit at Missouri Flat Road and take Highway 49 south. Follow it to Highway 88 in Jackson and turn left (east), at Highway 89 turn left (north) and follow it back to Highway 50 in South Lake Tahoe.

Wendy David of South Lake Tahoe said she drove between home and Placerville and back on Monday and was surprised by the amount of work that was done between 2-8pm. She said one lane of the road was torn up, as was part of the wall.

That was the first day the contractor was working on the road.

Sue Novasel, who lives at the base of the summit in Meyers, said the blasting from the project has been a bit disconcerting.

When the road does open, it will be to controlled traffic for about six weeks.

More information is online.

— Kathryn Reed