Underground power component in Stateline explodes, Highway 50 traffic at Tahoe re-routed
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Sun, 04/01/2018 - 9:08am
MONDAY UPDATE: One lane in each direction is open on Highway 50 in Stateline. Use caution if you are traveling in the area as crews continue to work on the repairs from yesterday’s explosion.
***
UPDATE: Douglas County Sheriff's Office says it hopes to have and least two lanes of Highway 50 open by 6 p.m. Sunday.
***
LAKE TAHOE, Nev. — There was an explosion just after 5 a.m. in Stateline on Sunday morning, causing the road to buckle and closing Highway 50 in both directions through the casino corridor. Multiple agencies are on the scene including NV Energy, the Nevada Highway Patrol and the Tahoe Douglas Fire Department.
The explosion is believed electrical, caused by natural gas, according to the Nevada Highway Patrol. It appears to have happened under the roadway in the crosswalk area between the Hard Rock and MontBleu casinos. There are no reports of injuries from the explosion.
DCSO Capt. Joe Duffy provided an update at 10:03 a.m. and noted NV Energy has advised there is the potential for another explosion. DSCO is asking the public to stay out of the area. Meanwhile, a gas leak has been detected east of the location of the explosion. It is unknown at this time if it was related to the explosion. See a video from Duffy here explaining the situation here.
Expect the road to be closed for an extended period of time and use the alternate route of Lake Parkway via Heavenly Village Way to the south, and Park Avenue to the north.
This is a developing story. KOLO has posted two videos of the explosion. NHP is providing updates on its Twitter page.
