West Shore roadwork unraveling

Last summer’s chip-seal roadwork on the West Shore is looking more like a chip project than a seal one.

The sticky oil is becoming exposed because snowplows are scraping off what was meant to be a more permanent fix to residential streets. El Dorado County did chip-seal work on 21 miles worth of roads. For now, sand is being placed on the oil.

Don Spear, with the county’s transportation department, sent a letter to Tahoma area residents about the issue. In part it said, “There apparently is a problem with the emulsion used as a binder for the aggregate. We are in discussions with our material vendor to resolve the situation as soon as weather permits.”

County employees say to fix the mess it could cost $700,000. This will come out of an already depleted roads maintenance fund. Work will occur in late spring.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report