Upgrades coming on key South Shore bike trails
By Kathryn Reed
Thousands of dollars in bicycle trail and ball field improvements on the South Shore were approved Friday by the South Lake Tahoe Recreation Facilities Joint Powers Authority.
Money for the projects comes from Measure S/R dollars. This voter approved initiative affects the California side of the South Shore.
The 6-year-old Sawmill bridge that crosses the Upper Truckee River on Highway 50 is in need of a new top coat because the concrete is disintegrating. There are so many loose particles on the span that it is getting close to the point where riding across it on a road bike could mean an instant flat tire.
While there was a lawsuit between the builder and El Dorado County regarding the bridge, it had more to do with days worked and not the short lifespan of the work.
County officials are hoping to find a product that will last 20 years.
Sawmill bike bridge is in need of a new overcoat. Photo/Kathryn Reed
Deterioration of the current bridge is being blamed on the sand and salt Caltrans spreads on the highway, the expansion and contraction of material from temperatures, and not having laid down materials in optimal conditions.
The board on Jan. 23 agreed to use $87,000 to help resurface this bridge.
Doing so would create a smooth bicycle path from Meyers to South Lake Tahoe because the final phase of the path on Sawmill Road is slated for construction this summer, too.
The recommendation for this and other projects came to the JPA board from the Bicycle Advisory Committee.
The committee also suggested, and the board approved, $70,000 to rehab the class 1 trail between Trout Creek and Edgewood Circle between Lakeview Commons and the property where the Alta Mira building used to be.
This route will be close to the highway and is not what has been long been called phase 2 of Lakeview Commons. The continuation of the bike trail on those plans calls for a cantilever bridge that would jut out onto the lake and get people away from the road. But lack of funding is stalling that project.
The other bike related allocation was for $10,000 to be spent on wayfinding signs along class 1 trails.
When it comes to ball fields in the area, the T-ball fields will get the most attention this coming season – in the form of new turf.
While bleachers are desired at the Little League field, there may not be the money to make that happen.
The fields committee is going to seek donations from service clubs to pay for the bleachers. If that doesn’t work, there are old bleachers that could be brought in.
Great planning. Block a great view of the river then have it fall apart before it’s even hooked into the bike trail system.
Too bad Caltrans use of salt on the roadways damaged the bike paths. Caltrans should be held responsible for the repairs. You broke it, you fix it!
Regarding the lack of bleachers at the Little League field, they were there when I played for the Pirates with Don Kennedy as the coach. Break out the old bleachers, and it could be a community project to bring em’ back up to snuff. Hell, my Dad spent plenty of afternoons watching his son sit on the bench (I was not what you would call a star player!) at that little ball field!!! Batter up! OLS
Wasn’t that Hal Coles property adjacent to the bike bridge. It was on stilts by the river. I seem to remember that he refused to allow the bike bridge to be placed in the proper location, between the two houses in the open area, away from the highway. DOT personel told me that was their preferred location but his refusal disallowed it. Tahoe conservancy eventually bought the stilt house from him, likely to gain control of that area for the bike path. Too little too late. Bridge already in.
Hal, is that true?
I am sorry to hear that the bike path, with the ugly bridge that blocks the view of the gorgeous river, now needs a repave job. I only wish the streets in the county looked this good but they don’t. We need a Measure “F” for “fixing our county roads.” $87,000.00 to resurface about 100 ft. of bike path. Only a gov’t entity could do this.
Don’t give them any ideas, Isee.
Our gas taxes and property taxes are supposed to go toward the roads. Among other things. Unfortunately, most of it goes to percs for politicians and government workers instead. That’s why, if you’ll look at your property tax bill, you’ll see so many additional dedicated taxes and “fees” that used to all be covered by the general fund.
Isee must be joking, “gorgeous river?” You mean the one that runs through neighborhoods, a major highway-twice, airport with constant slime, rubbish and high levels of fecal coliform levels?
Also, $87,000 will give you about 2/3rds of a mile of paved of a two lane highway.
So, I say Absolutely use the money for bike paths.
Yah, because we wouldnt want anyone working for the general good of the public to get paid resurfacing or repairing the bike trails, nope, not one public employee should EVER get their hands on money of any kind from any one for any thing……LMAO
I saw the lead to this article and could not believe it. I know I am getting old but didn’t this bridge just get built? $87k to fix it? I could hire a couple guys with jack hammers and get a couple yards of concrete and a few college students and do it in a weekend. I will do it $25k.
Noel-
Practicality and responsible planning doesn’t run gov. projects anymore!! It’s the unions, special interest and someone’s unemployed cousin. Since it is money siphened from all kinds of shell game taxes ~~~ who’s to know where it really comes from, how it is accounted for and who really gets it. Oh, and let’s do an investigation after the fact oh, and let’s just not do that again ~~~ until the next time!!!
And the hampsters just keep paying taxes to the blood sucking bureaucrats. Shouldn’t someone(s) job be gone by now for this kind of incompetance??? and waste? Hmmm, we would clean house if that were the case ~~ something to think about. But where to start?????
I know it’s hard to get humor on this comment area but in general “Isee” is always kidding. If I took this kind of thing personally it might hurt my health. Life is too short……I am going for a walk in the “gorgeous woods” Enjoy the rest of Junuary.
Noel, put in a bid.