Caltrans officials are hoping to open Highway 50 sometime Monday. The main corridor to South Lake Tahoe has been closed since early Friday evening due to mudslides.
On Sunday, Caltrans said that Highway 50 in the Kyburz area would remain closed indefinitely due to multiple mudslides. This means the main route between the South Shore and Placerville is off limits at least as a thoroughfare.
It is possible to access some points along the route from each direction. Heavenly Mountain ski resort and Sierra-at-Tahoe, which is located 12 miles east of South Lake Tahoe, have both remained open.
The road closing hasn’t been good news for the South Lake Tahoe ski resorts, which depend on Highway 50 to transport a lot of its skiers and snowboarders, especially people just coming to the Tahoe ski resorts for the day. Snow and rain in the Lake Tahoe region has resulted in the mudslides and issues along many roads in the region
Caltrans crews are working on three significant slides in a 12-mile area along the American River Canyon, along with other minor slides.
The first major slide took place Friday near Sand Flat. A second slide, located between Whitehall and Kyburz, occurred Saturday afternoon. The third slide also started Saturday and is two miles east of Kyburz.
The first mudslide came on 5:27 p.m. on Friday, and according to Caltrans. Highway 50 has been closed in both directions near Pollock Pines at Ice House Road ever since. The highway had been expected to reopen Sunday because crews worked tirelessly Saturday to clear debris from two major mudslides. However, Caltrans spokeswoman – Deanna Shoopman – said the second mudslide that happened near Kyburz at 12:48 p.m. Saturday was of equal size to the first slide.
Caltrans is advising motorists to use an alternative route. Note that local residents with proper identification will be allowed access from west Highway 50. There is no access from East Highway 50.
The weather forecast is for it to be dry in the greater Lake Tahoe-Truckee area until Wednesday night, when rain is expected to start falling – again.
