Echo Summit closure could impact S. Shore ski resorts
By Kathryn Reed
South Lake Tahoe officials were in Sacramento on Wednesday discussing Caltrans’ plan to close Highway 50 over Echo Summit next month and what it will mean to the local economy.
With the contract already awarded to C.C. Myers contractors out of Rancho Cordova, the city and tourism entities have no control over whether the road will be closed Easter weekend. Work could begin as early as April 15. The start date is up to Mother Nature – as in if there is snow on the ground and when the skies look to be clear for a two-week stretch.
The contractor has until Memorial Day weekend, per the contract, to close the road for two weeks.
Caltrans crews restripe Highway 50 in South Tahoe on March 10 -- one activity that doesn't impede traffic too much. Photo/Kathryn Reed
A major issue is how the road closure will impact Heavenly Mountain Resort and Sierra-at-Tahoe, and all the businesses their customers frequent on the South Shore. As of now Heavenly plans to close April 24 – Easter Sunday. Sierra has not set a closing date.
Caltrans needs to shutdown the main gateway to the South Shore from the Bay Area and Sacramento for two solid weeks to replace the deteriorating rock wall. Then for another six to eight weeks there will be delays on Highway 50 Monday-Thursday until the work is completed.
Tom Davis, the City Council’s rep on the South Lake Tahoe Lodging Association board, on Thursday updated his colleagues and the full room at Inn by the Lake about the plan.
He said on March 9 he met with state Sen. Ted Gaines, Caltrans, Sierra General Manager John Rice, Andrew Strain of Heavenly, B Gorman with Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce, and the contractor.
“Once the road closes, Sierra is done,” Davis said.
However, the resort isn’t exactly saying that. A number of their patrons come from outside the basin and would be able to access the resort even if the summit were closed.
Historically, Sierra has closed the second or third week of April. With Easter being late this year and the abundance of snow, spokesman Steve Hemphill said the resort would like to stay open until April 24.
“We are keeping our options open and hoping for the best,” Hemphill told Lake Tahoe News in regards to the Echo Summit closure.
Jerry Bindel, a lodging board member, at the meeting said, “It may not be terrible if snow occurs in mid-April.”
His concern as well as others in the lodging industry is people have booked rooms over Easter with the intent to ski. Hoteliers are concerned skiers will head to the North Shore instead of taking the back roads to the South Shore.
Bindel is less concerned about how the road closure could impact the Tour of California cycling event that starts in Stateline on May 15; speculating people coming for that won’t mind the additional time it takes to be routed to the South Shore because it’s a one-time special event.
Too bad we don’t know the exact closure date. We could all use a much needed vacation.
The closure will not effect us we are closing our business as of march 26h. Thanks to all our supportes over the last 25 years.
This decision by Caltrans has always been handled very irrationally. The best time to close the only way in , was during the slowest time in the fall. A date could have been picked in late September that would be less likely affected by weather. Everyone could plan well in advance. Instead caltrans allows a contractor who has zero concern about our town, to pick a date best for him. Not best for those impacted, nope. Best for the contractor.
A couple of weeks later would be preferred by many and local leaders have been telling that to Cal Trans for a year prior to the state making the call on closure dates.
Cal Trans sets the project parameters and contractors bid accordingly. The contractor does not get to set the project dates nor complete work when it is “convenient” for them.
That stretch of 50 is a mess and I’d rather the work get done before summer traffic. It’s quite unsafe and needs to be fixed. C.C. Myer is reputable, successful firm and always come in ahead of schedule so they can get those great bonuses for early completion. I trust they will do they same here.
We have a window of time to work with and can plan accordingly. It will put the hurt on numerous businesses and those of us that need to travel outside the basin for business. That would be the case no matter when the closure occurs. We don’t have to like it but it needs to get done.
Until fuel prices return to normal, this is an ideal time close the mountain highway to make the needed safety repairs. South Lake Tahoe should be thankful Caltrans actually has the funds to make the road safer.
The good news is that C. C. Myers was able to rebuild a section of the Santa Monica freeway ahead of schedule after the Northridge earthquake in 1994. Lets hope they can repeat that kind of success here.
http://www.ccmyers.com/completedprojects.cfm?ID=8
Bob says: March 11, 2011 at 6:38 amToo bad we don’t know the exact closure date. We could all use a much needed vacation.
Bob I’m 12-1/2 hours ahead of you enjoying Fiji for 28 days of rest,fun,clear water,the snow this time year gets too wet or slushy for powder days,it’s time for snow birds to leave the nest feel mother natures warmth ahead of the short summer we have in Tahoe.
Think it’s great the road be closed ,fixed.(about time)
April to July so slow anyway,plus if anyone recalls,when the highways washed out,(Spooner,50)the business that had the 2 for 1 ,did quite well..I’ll relish in the lack of early boat traffic to enjoy the quite waters a little longer,maybe there won’t be so many young whippersnappers going by at 55mph mooning, girls, and I.
Now if Harveys can just find some class acts to get the town a hopping for the summer concerts series, we’ll have something to look foward to.
Goodnight ….
I agree with Frank W there seems to be no concern for the economic impact that the closure will have. Fall would be a better time as you will also not be dealing with snowmelt running over and under the highway.
The work needs to be done. There is no good time to do it. Pick a date and go for it.
Hopefully this will be the time of “least impact” to the community.
Many of the ski resorts are closed by then and the Lake is tooooo cold to swim in, so get the job done!!
I live in strawberry, but my work, kids school and day care are in Meyers? How are we going to get to town? Why can’t we use Johnston pass?
Where is Johnston Pass?
Hey Pizzaguy
If you’re talking about Nik & Willies closing, my family will sure miss you. You had the best pizza and conversation on the South Shore. I don’t kknow what we’ll do for pizza now. Maybe I’ll have to make my own. With artichoke hearts of course.
Good luck to you and your family.
The LTVA and the Chamber requested that the road be closed and worked on in the spring prior to winning Amgen. Our business leaders thought this was the best time.
Johnston Pass can still be used; they just don’t want to publicize it since too much traffic would be a bad thing and large works won’t work on the tight road.