Lake Tahoe resident Ryan Curry took this photo of Highway 50 looking south from Cave Rock on Dec. 28, 2021, when traffic was backed up almost to Spooner Summit.
A stretch of Highway 50 between Elks Point Road and Glenbrook has seen a 50-percent increase in the number of crashes over a recent four-year period compared with similar highways across the Silver State, according to the Nevada Department of Transportation.
The highway is one of the deadliest in the county with 11 people killed in fatal collisions since 2014.
It has also seen an average daily peak-season traffic grow from 15,000 vehicles daily in 2014 to nearly 20,000 in 2019.
The state is hosting information booths to gather public feedback for future traffic improvements to Highway 50 along Lake Tahoe’s East Shore.
Community members may visit the following locations next week for information and to provide feedback:
• Douglas County Public Library, 233 Warrior Way, Glenbrook
11 a.m. - 1 p.m. March 30
• Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority, 169 Highway 50, Stateline 4-6 p.m. March 31
• Kahle Community Center, Kingsbury Grade, Stateline 10 a.m. - noon April 2
Those interested may also visit dot.nv.gov/US50EastShore for study information.
Those requiring special accommodations to access study information can contact 702-232-5288.
Through the corridor management plan, the state is gathering public feedback and evaluating Highway 50 between Spooner Summit and the Nevada-California border at Stateline. A first round of public information booths, held last summer, gathered community feedback.
The public feedback, including challenges with speeding and access to and from the highway, was then used to develop high-level concepts for highway improvements.
The spring 2022 listening tour will offer an opportunity for community members to provide input on these initial concepts before they are finalized into vehicle, transit and multi-modal strategies to enhance roadway travel and safety for all.
The resulting plan was completed in late 2022. The public will also have an opportunity to provide feedback before the plan is finalized.
The plan will be developed cooperatively with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, Tahoe Transportation District, U. S. Forest Service, Douglas County and other stakeholders, and will be consistent with state and regional transportation and environmental goals established in the Lake Tahoe Bi-State Compact.
Amid increasing traffic, the state also plans additional highway improvements in coming years. A traffic signal will be installed at Highway 50 and Warrior Way.
Within the coming five years, the state also plans to repave and rehabilitate approximately 13 miles of Highway 50 between Stateline and Spooner Summit.
Additional information is available at dot.nv.gov or by calling (775) 888-7000.
Also follow @NevadaDOTReno on Twitter for traffic and project updates in northern Nevada, and @nevadadot on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for updates from across the state.
