SLT attempting to fix some dilapidated roads

By Kathryn Reed

The obstacle course known as dodge the pothole will eventually go away – at least in the city limits of South Lake Tahoe.

An additional $300,000 was allocated for roads at Tuesday’s City Council meeting to deal with the nearly 400 potholes. And with water still covering some roads and more runoff coming, the damage is not done.

The money is coming from revenues being higher than what was projected when the 2016-17 budget was approved last fall.

Because everything is still wet and the water table high in many locations, the work can’t start until things really dry out.

What will be different with this fix is that the road will be cut out and filled, as in a complete fix and not just a patch. A 4-foot-by-10-foot area will be dug out to a depth of 6 inches.

Jim Marino, assistant public works director, said it is imperative to get the pot holes done as soon as possible because it is going to be a busy construction season between what the city and Caltrans have planned.

The money was part of the April 4 midyear budget adjustment. Sierra Nevada Construction was already under contract to do $1,602,947 worth of repairs last fall but the cold temperatures prevented that work from occurring. The amended contract is for the maximum amount allowed without having to rebid the project or have separate contracts.

Potholes on Sierra Boulevard will be fixed, but nothing substantive will be done to that road because it is slated for a massive overhaul in either 2018 or 2019. That will be a complete streets project, with it looking somewhat like Ski Run Boulevard.

“The city’s Public Works Department is adept at milling and repairing potholes and minor to moderate roadway surfacing, however, the magnitude of the impacts from this winter are above the production capability of in-house staff combined with all the ‘normal’ spring roadway tasks such as striping, sign work, curb and gutter repair, sweeping, etc.,” the staff report says.

Beyond the potholes, sections of town will see significant improvements to streets. Those projects include:

·      The No. 2 lane of Lake Tahoe Boulevard from Glorene Avenue to Viking Way

·      Glenwood Avenue from Woodland to North Rancho

·      Fairway-Glenwood Avenue from Johnson Boulevard to Cloverdale

·      South Avenue from Fourth Street to Melba

·      Eloise Avenue from the cul de sac to Dunlap Drive

·      Primrose-Chonokis from Glenn Road to Montreal Avenue

·      Tahoe Island Drive from Third Street to Peter Avenue

·      Aloha Drive from Venice Drive to the cul de sac.

“This winter showed what we are so susceptible to without a dedicated roadway program,” Marino told the council.

He has been an ardent advocate for annual spending of between $2 million and $3 million for roads. The council acknowledges the problem, but has yet to do anything substantive.

The city is hoping for emergency storm relief dollars that could be used to enhance or build drainage basins where needed.

Bike trails will also see upgrades this construction season. They include:

·      El Dorado Beach to Alta Mira site – it will essentially be a whole new path

·      Campground class 1 path

·      15th Street trail to bridge

·      Trout Creek (Meek’s) to Edgewood Circle.