New road in El Dorado County south of Highway 50? Officials keep the option
El Dorado County supervisors have advanced plans for a potential new east-west road near the El Dorado Hills Business Park, located in a largely undeveloped area about three miles south of Highway 50.
At its meeting in Placerville on Dec. 9, the board voted to add the project to the county’s general plan. A year ago, the board approved a $450,000 contract with a consultant to undertake traffic engineering and environmental planning for the project. It would connect Latrobe Road to the county’s western boundary with Sacramento County.
Although the board unanimously supported the project this month, the proposed road — dubbed the Latrobe West Connector — may never materialize.
The possible “opening year” was set for 2036 in planning documents, but county staff wrote in their presentation to the board that it was far from guaranteed.
“By adding this to the General Plan, we’re not committing to immediate construction,” the staff wrote, “we’re simply preserving the option and ensuring that future development can be supported by the right infrastructure.”
Between El Dorado County and Folsom, significant development has taken place south of Highway 50 in recent years. A traffic analysis showed that the Department of Transportation projects a marked increase in drivers in the area between this year and 2045.
