Public Hearing on Thursday for Cave Rock extension project at Lake Tahoe

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Hearings Officer will hold a public hearing Thursday, March 31 for Nevada Department of Transportation’s proposed project to install a 60-foot-long tunnel extension and rock fall shelter on the north side of the westbound Cave Rock tunnel to better protect the traveling public.

The proposed project would also implement water quality improvements on U.S. Highway 50 from Cave Rock to Spooner Summit, located within the transportation department’s right-of-way.

Rocks, some as big as four-feet by four-feet have been falling from the hill, most recently in February when lanes were closed as a bulldozer removed them from the roadway. Last year temporary steel netting was placed on the hillside, but it wasn't meant as a long-term solution.

Devin Cartwright, a supervisor with the Nevada Department of Transportation's Roadway Design Division provided an overview to a South Lake Tahoe lodging association meeting. He said the plan would bring with it one lane of traffic in each direction, causing some traffic delays, 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week from May to October, 2016.

The tunnel extension would replicate natural colors, patterns and textures to match the existing rock face. Lighting and white paint will be added inside each tunnel for better visibility and two new overhead signs will be installed to automatically notify drivers of bicyclists or potentially icy conditions in the tunnels. Westbound U.S. 50 lanes and the roadway median between Cave Rock and the Cave Rock State Park boat launch entrance will also be paved.

Taking advantage of the lane closures, NDOT would install water quality improvements such as enhanced roadside drainage inlets and sediment filtration systems along U.S. 50 from approximately one mile and four miles north of Cave Rock.

During construction, traffic would be reduced to one lane in each direction through the eastbound Cave Rock tunnel, with reduced speed limits and some limited travel delays to be expected. Traffic north of Cave Rock will be reduced to one lane in the eastbound direction with short term westbound one-lane closures.

The application for this project is on file at the TRPA offices at 128 Market Street, Stateline, Nevada, and is available for public review during regular front counter hours. An agenda for the Hearings Officer meeting and a staff summary for this proposed project are available online here.

People can present oral comments about the proposed project during the Hearings Officer meeting, scheduled to start at 2 p.m. at the TRPA offices in Stateline, Nevada, or submit comments to TRPA by mail. Comments must be received prior to the public hearing or they will not be considered. Mail written comments to Shannon Friedman, senior planner, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, P.O. Box 5310, Stateline, NV 89449.

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency leads the cooperative effort to preserve, restore, and enhance the unique natural and human environment of the Lake Tahoe Region, while improving local communities, and people’s interactions with our irreplaceable environment.