Highway 50 to be slow-going as Caltrans works to shore up Echo Summit in wake of rock slides

In the wake of multiple rock slides on a key mountain pass connecting the Tahoe Basin to Sacramento and points west, Caltrans officials are planning to tackle the loose hillside above Echo Summit head on this week.

The transportation agency warned drivers using Highway 50 to South Lake Tahoe should expect delays and traffic controls starting Monday as crews work to bring down more loose rocks to stave off a larger closure by rock scaling and slope stabilization work.

The problems started in early March, when a bus-sized boulder fell onto the roadway, shutting down traffic for 18 hours as crews worked to blast away the boulder.

Several additional slides followed, including a fallen boulder that blocked the westbound lane for several hours on Wednesday.

“These measures will permit Caltrans and its contractor, Granite Construction, to expedite rock scaling and slope stabilization activities in the area,” said Caltrans District 3 spokesperson Raquel Borrayo.

Pick-up trucks and passenger cars will be detoured at Johnson Pass Road with one-way traffic and should expect delays up to 30 minutes.

Other commercial vehicles and vehicles towing trailers will stay on Highway 50 — over Echo Summit — with one-way traffic causing 30- to 45-minute delays.

One-way traffic controls are also expected to be in effect between Kyburz and Strawberry, due to vegetation removal following the Caldor fire.

Detours on Highway 50 will be in effect between noon and 6 p.m. on Monday, 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to noon on Friday.

Weather or unexpected events may delay or prolong the efforts, Caltrans said.