Interstate 80 closure update: Chain controls lifted after Tahoe-region slowdown and snow
Supporters heading east toward Tahoe along Interstate 80 Thursday morning to attend Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign rally in Reno likely were stalled after authorities closed the freeway due to a jackknifed big rig.
Harris, the Democratic candidate for president in Tuesday’s election, is scheduled to speak at the campaign rally in Reno. Nevada is widely seen as a must-win state for both major party presidential candidates.
The rally will take place from noon to 6 p.m. Thursday. The Harris campaign will release the location of the rally to those who RSVP for the event.
At 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Caltrans officials announced authorities were holding back eastbound vehicle traffic on Interstate 80 at Donner Summit due to the jackknifed big rig.
Caltrans cameras showed eastbound traffic at a standstill near Castle Peak. Shortly before 10 a.m. Thursday, Caltrans officials said there was no estimated time when the freeway will be cleared, and driver should expect delays.
Chain controls for vehicles were in effect for eastbound traffic on I-80 from Cisco Grove in Placer County to Truckee in Nevada County, according to Caltrans. Chain controls were in effect for westbound traffic on I-80 from the Donner Lake Interchange to Eagle Lakes.
At 11:16 a.m., Caltrans said the road was open and eastbound traffic was moving again on I-80. Vehicle chain controls were lifted in both directions, Caltrans officials said, but more snow was in the forecast.
Caltrans officials warned drivers in the Tahoe region to be cautious of changing traveling conditions from the Sacramento Valley to the Sierra Nevada mountains. They urged travelers to check the Caltrans QuickMap online for the latest road conditions.
At 9:16 a.m. Thursday, the National Weather Service in Sacramento announced that snow showers were winding down Thursday morning over the northern Sierra Nevada, but mountain travel concerns remained for drivers. Caltrans freeway cameras showed the area covered in snow.
The weather service has issued a winter weather advisory through 5 p.m. Thursday for elevations higher than 6,000 feet in the Sierra Nevada. Forecasters predicted about 3 to 6 inches of snowfall was possible with increasing amounts of snow at higher elevations.
The California Highway Patrol Truckee Area Office urged drivers to slow down. The CHP received several reports of vehicle spinning-out Thursday morning.
This story was originally published October 31, 2024 at 10:33 AM.
