The last pass I took over the weekend US 50 over Echo Summit. I managed to get a couple pictures of the old US 50 alignment even on the final approach to the summit but I'll be going over that one I get a chance to look at the state highway maps to see when the shift was made:
https://www.flickr.com/gp/151828809@N08/TBnqp6
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on June 25, 2017, 08:41:29 AM
The last pass I took over the weekend US 50 over Echo Summit. I managed to get a couple pictures of the old US 50 alignment even on the final approach to the summit but I'll be going over that one I get a chance to look at the state highway maps to see when the shift was made:
The modern alignment of US 50 over Echo Summit was completed between 1936 and 1947. The upper part, moving the alignment from the old Lincoln Highway routing over Johnson Pass south to Echo Summit, was done in 1936-1939. The lower part, replacing the gated road you photographed from that point down to Meyers, was completed in 1947, after a break for the war. There's an article about the upgrading of this section of US 50 in the Sept./Oct. 1947 issue of "California Highways and Public Works".
An upcoming project to replace one of the 1936-1939 bridges which hangs on the cliff above Christmas Valley is going to force a full closure of US 50 for an extended time in 2019 or 2020. Link to Caltrans info on the project HERE (http://www.dot.ca.gov/d3/projects/subprojects/3F530/index.html). There has already been plenty of consternation among the South Lake Tahoe business community about the closure, because the "Alternate US 50" routing over CA 88/Carson Pass really isn't an adequate alternative to US 50.
Edit: The old Johnson Pass Road is still open but it is narrow with some extremely tight curves, so it's totally unacceptable as a detour for normal US 50 traffic. In a previous construction closure it was open only to emergency vehicles, and I think maybe a few of the local residents up there got entry permits.
Quote from: gonealookin on June 26, 2017, 12:47:32 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on June 25, 2017, 08:41:29 AM
The last pass I took over the weekend US 50 over Echo Summit. I managed to get a couple pictures of the old US 50 alignment even on the final approach to the summit but I'll be going over that one I get a chance to look at the state highway maps to see when the shift was made:
The modern alignment of US 50 over Echo Summit was completed between 1936 and 1947. The upper part, moving the alignment from the old Lincoln Highway routing over Johnson Pass south to Echo Summit, was done in 1936-1939. The lower part, replacing the gated road you photographed from that point down to Meyers, was completed in 1947, after a break for the war. There's an article about the upgrading of this section of US 50 in the Sept./Oct. 1947 issue of "California Highways and Public Works".
An upcoming project to replace one of the 1936-1939 bridges which hangs on the cliff above Christmas Valley is going to force a full closure of US 50 for an extended time in 2019 or 2020. Link to Caltrans info on the project HERE (http://www.dot.ca.gov/d3/projects/subprojects/3F530/index.html). There has already been plenty of consternation among the South Lake Tahoe business community about the closure, because the "Alternate US 50" routing over CA 88/Carson Pass really isn't an adequate alternative to US 50.
Edit: The old Johnson Pass Road is still open but it is narrow with some extremely tight curves, so it's totally unacceptable as a detour for normal US 50 traffic. In a previous construction closure it was open only to emergency vehicles, and I think maybe a few of the local residents up there got entry permits.
Interesting that Caltrans is seriously considering shutting down US 50, that will be a complete disaster in the making. Wasn't CA 88 pressed into US 50T service a couple years back if memory serves correctly? 88 isn't too bad but it definitely isn't built to filter out the truck traffic from the cars like US 50 is. Interestingly I do have a link to the 1935 Eldorado County highway map showing the original alignment over Johnson Pass:
http://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~247279~5515350:Eldorado-County-?sort=Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No&qvq=q:california%2Bdivision%2Bof%2Bhighways;sort:Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No;lc:RUMSEY~8~1&mi=31&trs=163
Looks like US 50 jumped over to Echo Summit to Johnson Pass sometime between 1940 and 1942 given the slight bow on the 42 map:
1940 State Highway Map
http://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~239585~5511890:Road-Map-of-the-State-of-California?sort=Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No&qvq=q:caltrans;sort:Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No;lc:RUMSEY~8~1&mi=67&trs=86
1942 State Highway Map
http://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~239582~5511888:Road-Map-of-the-State-of-California?sort=Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No&qvq=q:caltrans;sort:Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No;lc:RUMSEY~8~1&mi=65&trs=86
Looks like the alignment of US 50 shifted north of Johnson Pass Road some time from 1956 to 1957:
1956 State Highway Map
http://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~239549~5511866:Road-Map-of-the-State-of-California?sort=Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No&qvq=q:caltrans;sort:Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No;lc:RUMSEY~8~1&mi=43&trs=86
1957 State Highway Map
http://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~239546~5511864:Road-Map-of-the-State-of-California?sort=Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No&qvq=q:caltrans;sort:Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No;lc:RUMSEY~8~1&mi=41&trs=86
Here are the California Highways and Public Works articles with reference to the specific opening dates of the new alignments:
Upper part, shift off Johnson Pass Road to current Echo Summit: July 17, 1940:
https://archive.org/stream/california193940highwacalirich#page/n647/mode/2up (https://archive.org/stream/california193940highwacalirich#page/n647/mode/2up)
Lower part: they say there was a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Meyers Grade at the Bijou Center in South Lake Tahoe on September 13, 1947:
https://archive.org/stream/californiahighwa194547calirich#page/n675/mode/2up (https://archive.org/stream/californiahighwa194547calirich#page/n675/mode/2up)
The 1947 article skips around a lot in that issue; from that second link, skip back several pages to 664/724 of the file and there's a nice picture of the very familiar final sweeping curve at the bottom of Meyers Grade. The guardrail and striping have been modernized but otherwise it looks exactly the same, 70 years later.
Quote from: gonealookin on June 26, 2017, 12:47:32 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on June 25, 2017, 08:41:29 AM
The last pass I took over the weekend US 50 over Echo Summit. I managed to get a couple pictures of the old US 50 alignment even on the final approach to the summit but I'll be going over that one I get a chance to look at the state highway maps to see when the shift was made:
The modern alignment of US 50 over Echo Summit was completed between 1936 and 1947. The upper part, moving the alignment from the old Lincoln Highway routing over Johnson Pass south to Echo Summit, was done in 1936-1939. The lower part, replacing the gated road you photographed from that point down to Meyers, was completed in 1947, after a break for the war. There's an article about the upgrading of this section of US 50 in the Sept./Oct. 1947 issue of "California Highways and Public Works".
An upcoming project to replace one of the 1936-1939 bridges which hangs on the cliff above Christmas Valley is going to force a full closure of US 50 for an extended time in 2019 or 2020. Link to Caltrans info on the project HERE (http://www.dot.ca.gov/d3/projects/subprojects/3F530/index.html). There has already been plenty of consternation among the South Lake Tahoe business community about the closure, because the "Alternate US 50" routing over CA 88/Carson Pass really isn't an adequate alternative to US 50.
Not to mention the casinos on the Nevada side of the lake.
Found this in my search for historical photos for the Echo Summit Sidehill Viaduct. I will be the Structure Rep (on site engineer) for the construction of the replacement bridge starting this spring.
Figured I'd post up in case anyone has any questions and primarily to ask if anyone knows where I can find some photos of the original 1939 construction..
Thanks!
Quote from: BrandonMiller on February 13, 2019, 10:36:59 AM
Found this in my search for historical photos for the Echo Summit Sidehill Viaduct. I will be the Structure Rep (on site engineer) for the construction of the replacement bridge starting this spring.
Figured I'd post up in case anyone has any questions and primarily to ask if anyone knows where I can find some photos of the original 1939 construction..
Thanks!
There has been so much frustration this winter about the horrible traffic on 50 (and the less-plowed side streets which Waze directs drivers to) as people try to head back west over the Sierras at the end of a snowy weekend that I think the viaduct project has been forgotten. I guess we'll be reminded of that these next couple years with the one-lane controlled traffic and especially the full closure which apparently is now scheduled for May 2020.
Suggestion on the photos would be to contact the Lake Tahoe Historical Society. If they don't have anything in their own collection they might be able to point you in the right direction. The museum is closed for the winter but I'd think somebody would at least answer an e-mail. http://www.laketahoemuseum.org/ (http://www.laketahoemuseum.org/)
Quote from: BrandonMiller on February 13, 2019, 10:36:59 AM
Found this in my search for historical photos for the Echo Summit Sidehill Viaduct. I will be the Structure Rep (on site engineer) for the construction of the replacement bridge starting this spring.
Figured I'd post up in case anyone has any questions and primarily to ask if anyone knows where I can find some photos of the original 1939 construction..
Thanks!
Quote from: BrandonMiller on February 13, 2019, 10:36:59 AM
Found this in my search for historical photos for the Echo Summit Sidehill Viaduct. I will be the Structure Rep (on site engineer) for the construction of the replacement bridge starting this spring.
Figured I'd post up in case anyone has any questions and primarily to ask if anyone knows where I can find some photos of the original 1939 construction..
Thanks!
Well, if you have any information on the project you think I should put up on cahighways.org, just pass it along.
Probably not very old: http://cdm16436.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16436coll2/id/650 (the PDF has a few black and white closeups)
Construction photos: http://archive.org/details/california193638highwacalirich/page/n843
We discussed this briefly in cahwyguy's August headlines post but this looks like the appropriate thread for the current work. The full closure of US 50 over Echo Summit, for around 10-14 days, is vaguely scheduled for October. They might get a little dusting of snow while they're working but it would be into November before they would run into serious winter conditions at the ~7000 foot level.
http://southtahoenow.com/story/09/03/2019/closure-echo-summit-may-be-closer-mid-october (http://southtahoenow.com/story/09/03/2019/closure-echo-summit-may-be-closer-mid-october)
QuoteDue to a delay in receiving needed supplies, the Caltrans contractor working on the US 50 Echo Summit Sidehill Viaduct project will be moving their expected full road closure date.
Caltrans today [9/3/19] told the South Lake Tahoe City Council it is looking more like mid-October for their closing the artery between the lake and Sacramento for up to 14 days. They said the actual closure date is still a moving target.
Through passage on the Johnson Pass Road alternate will be available for residents in the immediate area only; it's also there as an emergency vehicle access route if something disastrous (think wildfire) were to happen while the US 50 bridge is out.
QuoteJohnson Pass Road passes will be issued to locals that need to travel this road just like during the 2011 wall project.
Quote from: gonealookin on September 05, 2019, 10:16:49 PM
We discussed this briefly in cahwyguy's August headlines post but this looks like the appropriate thread for the current work. The full closure of US 50 over Echo Summit, for around 10-14 days, is vaguely scheduled for October. They might get a little dusting of snow while they're working but it would be into November before they would run into serious winter conditions at the ~7000 foot level.
http://southtahoenow.com/story/09/03/2019/closure-echo-summit-may-be-closer-mid-october (http://southtahoenow.com/story/09/03/2019/closure-echo-summit-may-be-closer-mid-october)
QuoteDue to a delay in receiving needed supplies, the Caltrans contractor working on the US 50 Echo Summit Sidehill Viaduct project will be moving their expected full road closure date.
Caltrans today [9/3/19] told the South Lake Tahoe City Council it is looking more like mid-October for their closing the artery between the lake and Sacramento for up to 14 days. They said the actual closure date is still a moving target.
Through passage on the Johnson Pass Road alternate will be available for residents in the immediate area only; it's also there as an emergency vehicle access route if something disastrous (think wildfire) were to happen while the US 50 bridge is out.
QuoteJohnson Pass Road passes will be issued to locals that need to travel this road just like during the 2011 wall project.
Good thing I wasn't planning on a trip to Tahoe at least until the winter. I guess that whole Johnson Pass deal with locals played out as you said. Funny that the older South Lincoln Highway Route is getting some service again.
The closure is now scheduled to start on October 18, which is getting toward the very end of the weather window.
http://southtahoenow.com/story/09/05/2019/echo-summit-closure-moved-out-october-18-caltrans-tells-those-public-meeting (http://southtahoenow.com/story/09/05/2019/echo-summit-closure-moved-out-october-18-caltrans-tells-those-public-meeting)
QuoteOctober 18 is still not the final date as the contractor is having trouble getting the needed girders from their supplier in Utah, Forterra Structural & Specialty Products. The 100-foot girder will be placed on top of the viaduct's new supports under the roadway.
...
There is still a chance that the full closure will not happen in 2019. The contractor has financial incentive to get the work done this year, but if weather and supplies don't allow that they will have to figure out when in 2020 it can be finished. It would have to be done prior to Memorial Day or after Labor Day, and with the coming winter conditions unknown, prior to Memorial Day may not be feasible. Work can continue this fall if snow or rain starts.
It's interesting that Caltrans can't officially designate Mormon Emigrant Trail as a detour route. That road carries the semi-official "Alternate US 50" designation but it's maintained by the county and the Forest Service and it looks like the official detour designation will be limited to state-maintained highways (CA 16, CA 49, CA 88 and CA 89).
The official public information page with updates and links to the relevant Twitter and Facebook accounts is at:
https://www.way2tahoe.com/ (https://www.way2tahoe.com/)
Quote from: gonealookin on September 06, 2019, 04:24:46 PM
It's interesting that Caltrans can't officially designate Mormon Emigrant Trail as a detour route. That road carries the semi-official "Alternate US 50" designation but it's maintained by the county and the Forest Service and it looks like the official detour designation will be limited to state-maintained highways (CA 16, CA 49, CA 88 and CA 89).
I was wondering about that, too. Mormon Emigrant Trail is normally unplowed. The Forest Service seems to believe in "solar snow removal", which in 2011 meant the road was still closed near route 88 in early July. Maybe Caltrans can use MET as an official detour only if it will volunteer to provide snow removal if needed, and the Forest Service agrees.
They struck out on the girders. The project is being placed in winter hibernation and they'll probably try to do the major work that requires the 10-14 day closure in May.
QuoteHIGHWAY 50 CLOSURE AT ECHO SUMMIT POSTPONED
A full closure of U.S. Highway 50 over Echo Summit that was planned for mid-October is being postponed until next year.
The seven precast bridge girders needed for Echo Summit Sidehill Viaduct (bridge) Replacement Project will not be ready in time for an October closure. Instead, contractor Q&D Construction will winterize the job site and come back to finish the project next year.
This is a two-year project that the contractor was attempting to accelerate the work on. It is still on track to be finished on time next year.
(from the Way2Tahoe update site)
Quote from: oscar on September 06, 2019, 04:46:18 PM
Quote from: gonealookin on September 06, 2019, 04:24:46 PM
It's interesting that Caltrans can't officially designate Mormon Emigrant Trail as a detour route. That road carries the semi-official "Alternate US 50" designation but it's maintained by the county and the Forest Service and it looks like the official detour designation will be limited to state-maintained highways (CA 16, CA 49, CA 88 and CA 89).
I was wondering about that, too. Mormon Emigrant Trail is normally unplowed. The Forest Service seems to believe in "solar snow removal", which in 2011 meant the road was still closed near route 88 in early July. Maybe Caltrans can use MET as an official detour only if it will volunteer to provide snow removal if needed, and the Forest Service agrees.
LOVE your term "solar snow removal".
The Echo Summit viaduct replacement project is still scheduled for this spring, and if you're going to close US 50 over the Sierra for a week and a half or more, what ideal timing. It has been a below-average snow year around Tahoe, plus with the virus issues tourist traffic has dwindled to nothing, and even in a good scenario that should carry over until Memorial Day. I'd look for the US 50 closure to start last week of April or first week of May.
Everything else is closing in California and I guess a shutdown of all construction projects isn't out of the question. Here, it would miss an opportunity to make lemonade out of lemons though.
Quote from: gonealookin on March 21, 2020, 04:53:31 PM
The Echo Summit viaduct replacement project is still scheduled for this spring, and if you're going to close US 50 over the Sierra for a week and a half or more, what ideal timing. It has been a below-average snow year around Tahoe, plus with the virus issues tourist traffic has dwindled to nothing, and even in a good scenario that should carry over until Memorial Day. I'd look for the US 50 closure to start last week of April or first week of May.
Everything else is closing in California and I guess a shutdown of all construction projects isn't out of the question. Here, it would miss an opportunity to make lemonade out of lemons though.
There is a lot of opportunities for road construction all over the country due to the lower travel that is taking place, especially resurfacing of roads in major cities. The problem is how to maintain social distancing of the crew members themselves. Also, to what extent is their road construction work really essential and couldn't be delayed until the virus crisis passes.
It's an interesting dilemma. :hmmm:
Saith mrsman, who is generally teleworking for almost two weeks and has almost never left the house. Send the wife to the store for the groceries!
Quote from: mrsman on March 25, 2020, 12:57:39 PM
Quote from: gonealookin on March 21, 2020, 04:53:31 PM
The Echo Summit viaduct replacement project is still scheduled for this spring, and if you're going to close US 50 over the Sierra for a week and a half or more, what ideal timing. It has been a below-average snow year around Tahoe, plus with the virus issues tourist traffic has dwindled to nothing, and even in a good scenario that should carry over until Memorial Day. I'd look for the US 50 closure to start last week of April or first week of May.
Everything else is closing in California and I guess a shutdown of all construction projects isn't out of the question. Here, it would miss an opportunity to make lemonade out of lemons though.
There is a lot of opportunities for road construction all over the country due to the lower travel that is taking place, especially resurfacing of roads in major cities. The problem is how to maintain social distancing of the crew members themselves. Also, to what extent is their road construction work really essential and couldn't be delayed until the virus crisis passes.
It's an interesting dilemma. :hmmm:
Saith mrsman, who is generally teleworking for almost two weeks and has almost never left the house. Send the wife to the store for the groceries!
Echo Summit is one of the examples where work should proceed if weather permits. Essentially is solving the problem of mitigating tourism which is likely to kick back with a vengeance the second any slight chance in restrictions are made.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on March 25, 2020, 02:53:56 PM
Quote from: mrsman on March 25, 2020, 12:57:39 PM
Quote from: gonealookin on March 21, 2020, 04:53:31 PM
The Echo Summit viaduct replacement project is still scheduled for this spring, and if you're going to close US 50 over the Sierra for a week and a half or more, what ideal timing. It has been a below-average snow year around Tahoe, plus with the virus issues tourist traffic has dwindled to nothing, and even in a good scenario that should carry over until Memorial Day. I'd look for the US 50 closure to start last week of April or first week of May.
Everything else is closing in California and I guess a shutdown of all construction projects isn't out of the question. Here, it would miss an opportunity to make lemonade out of lemons though.
There is a lot of opportunities for road construction all over the country due to the lower travel that is taking place, especially resurfacing of roads in major cities. The problem is how to maintain social distancing of the crew members themselves. Also, to what extent is their road construction work really essential and couldn't be delayed until the virus crisis passes.
It's an interesting dilemma. :hmmm:
Saith mrsman, who is generally teleworking for almost two weeks and has almost never left the house. Send the wife to the store for the groceries!
Echo Summit is one of the examples where work should proceed if weather permits. Essentially is solving the problem of mitigating tourism which is likely to kick back with a vengeance the second any slight chance in restrictions are made.
Obviously health safety is paramount. I think we should test the workers and, when they test clean, "quarantine" them for the duration of the project in 15th floor view rooms in Harrah's and Harvey's which aren't being used anyway. Economic concerns aren't very important right now, but this thinks ahead to when we're more concerned with those issues.
Quote from: gonealookin on March 25, 2020, 09:35:53 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on March 25, 2020, 02:53:56 PM
Quote from: mrsman on March 25, 2020, 12:57:39 PM
Quote from: gonealookin on March 21, 2020, 04:53:31 PM
The Echo Summit viaduct replacement project is still scheduled for this spring, and if you're going to close US 50 over the Sierra for a week and a half or more, what ideal timing. It has been a below-average snow year around Tahoe, plus with the virus issues tourist traffic has dwindled to nothing, and even in a good scenario that should carry over until Memorial Day. I'd look for the US 50 closure to start last week of April or first week of May.
Everything else is closing in California and I guess a shutdown of all construction projects isn't out of the question. Here, it would miss an opportunity to make lemonade out of lemons though.
There is a lot of opportunities for road construction all over the country due to the lower travel that is taking place, especially resurfacing of roads in major cities. The problem is how to maintain social distancing of the crew members themselves. Also, to what extent is their road construction work really essential and couldn't be delayed until the virus crisis passes.
It's an interesting dilemma. :hmmm:
Saith mrsman, who is generally teleworking for almost two weeks and has almost never left the house. Send the wife to the store for the groceries!
Echo Summit is one of the examples where work should proceed if weather permits. Essentially is solving the problem of mitigating tourism which is likely to kick back with a vengeance the second any slight chance in restrictions are made.
Obviously health safety is paramount. I think we should test the workers and, when they test clean, "quarantine" them for the duration of the project in 15th floor view rooms in Harrah's and Harvey's which aren't being used anyway. Economic concerns aren't very important right now, but this thinks ahead to when we're more concerned with those issues.
Since the "breaking news" yesterday regarding the outbreak dealt with at least two firms announcing availability of new COVID-19 testing equipment that promises rapid results, IMO one of the first groups of people that should be tested are just those described above -- those that
need to be working together on vital projects -- and if keeping a major interregional route in working order isn't vital, I for one don't know what is! Besides, in this instance, working up at the top of the Sierras would be, under these circumstances, one of the more "ideal" distancing-friendly jobs available!
Quote from: sparker on March 28, 2020, 02:15:06 PM
Quote from: gonealookin on March 25, 2020, 09:35:53 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on March 25, 2020, 02:53:56 PM
Quote from: mrsman on March 25, 2020, 12:57:39 PM
Quote from: gonealookin on March 21, 2020, 04:53:31 PM
The Echo Summit viaduct replacement project is still scheduled for this spring, and if you're going to close US 50 over the Sierra for a week and a half or more, what ideal timing. It has been a below-average snow year around Tahoe, plus with the virus issues tourist traffic has dwindled to nothing, and even in a good scenario that should carry over until Memorial Day. I'd look for the US 50 closure to start last week of April or first week of May.
Everything else is closing in California and I guess a shutdown of all construction projects isn't out of the question. Here, it would miss an opportunity to make lemonade out of lemons though.
There is a lot of opportunities for road construction all over the country due to the lower travel that is taking place, especially resurfacing of roads in major cities. The problem is how to maintain social distancing of the crew members themselves. Also, to what extent is their road construction work really essential and couldn't be delayed until the virus crisis passes.
It's an interesting dilemma. :hmmm:
Saith mrsman, who is generally teleworking for almost two weeks and has almost never left the house. Send the wife to the store for the groceries!
Echo Summit is one of the examples where work should proceed if weather permits. Essentially is solving the problem of mitigating tourism which is likely to kick back with a vengeance the second any slight chance in restrictions are made.
Obviously health safety is paramount. I think we should test the workers and, when they test clean, "quarantine" them for the duration of the project in 15th floor view rooms in Harrah's and Harvey's which aren't being used anyway. Economic concerns aren't very important right now, but this thinks ahead to when we're more concerned with those issues.
Since the "breaking news" yesterday regarding the outbreak dealt with at least two firms announcing availability of new COVID-19 testing equipment that promises rapid results, IMO one of the first groups of people that should be tested are just those described above -- those that need to be working together on vital projects -- and if keeping a major interregional route in working order isn't vital, I for one don't know what is! Besides, in this instance, working up at the top of the Sierras would be, under these circumstances, one of the more "ideal" distancing-friendly jobs available!
I was going to say, if they need volunteers to hang out on a road construction project at Echo Summit I'll go...sure beats sit around the house wasting away via mental decay. Caltrans can even put me out in a shack on Johnson Pass so I can stop people from trying to use the South Lincoln Highway. :-D
Quote from: sparker on March 28, 2020, 02:15:06 PM
Since the "breaking news" yesterday regarding the outbreak dealt with at least two firms announcing availability of new COVID-19 testing equipment that promises rapid results, IMO one of the first groups of people that should be tested are just those described above -- those that need to be working together on vital projects -- and if keeping a major interregional route in working order isn't vital, I for one don't know what is! Besides, in this instance, working up at the top of the Sierras would be, under these circumstances, one of the more "ideal" distancing-friendly jobs available!
The issue with this specific project is that the work area is extremely compact. We're replacing a short bridge that basically hangs off the side of a cliff. There's no way the workers could maintain the recommended distancing in that work space. I sure do hope we can find a way to push this forward though. I was out a bit in South Lake Tahoe today and while it's not a total ghost town, it's certainly much quieter than even in an off-season weekend like we get in late October-early November before ski season opens.
Quote from: gonealookin on March 28, 2020, 06:58:44 PM
Quote from: sparker on March 28, 2020, 02:15:06 PM
Since the "breaking news" yesterday regarding the outbreak dealt with at least two firms announcing availability of new COVID-19 testing equipment that promises rapid results, IMO one of the first groups of people that should be tested are just those described above -- those that need to be working together on vital projects -- and if keeping a major interregional route in working order isn't vital, I for one don't know what is! Besides, in this instance, working up at the top of the Sierras would be, under these circumstances, one of the more "ideal" distancing-friendly jobs available!
The issue with this specific project is that the work area is extremely compact. We're replacing a short bridge that basically hangs off the side of a cliff. There's no way the workers could maintain the recommended distancing in that work space. I sure do hope we can find a way to push this forward though. I was out a bit in South Lake Tahoe today and while it's not a total ghost town, it's certainly much quieter than even in an off-season weekend like we get in late October-early November before ski season opens.
Best option -- since they're going to be working close together on this
vital and necessary project, request coronavirus tests for the crew; isolate any positives elsewhere and let the negative-testers have at it as needed until the job is completed.
Quote from: sparker on March 29, 2020, 02:58:11 AM
Quote from: gonealookin on March 28, 2020, 06:58:44 PM
Quote from: sparker on March 28, 2020, 02:15:06 PM
Since the "breaking news" yesterday regarding the outbreak dealt with at least two firms announcing availability of new COVID-19 testing equipment that promises rapid results, IMO one of the first groups of people that should be tested are just those described above -- those that need to be working together on vital projects -- and if keeping a major interregional route in working order isn't vital, I for one don't know what is! Besides, in this instance, working up at the top of the Sierras would be, under these circumstances, one of the more "ideal" distancing-friendly jobs available!
The issue with this specific project is that the work area is extremely compact. We're replacing a short bridge that basically hangs off the side of a cliff. There's no way the workers could maintain the recommended distancing in that work space. I sure do hope we can find a way to push this forward though. I was out a bit in South Lake Tahoe today and while it's not a total ghost town, it's certainly much quieter than even in an off-season weekend like we get in late October-early November before ski season opens.
Best option -- since they're going to be working close together on this vital and necessary project, request coronavirus tests for the crew; isolate any positives elsewhere and let the negative-testers have at it as needed until the job is completed.
The local news blog says (without sourcing but I assume they got this from Caltrans) that the project is still on (link) (http://southtahoenow.com/story/04/04/2020/caltrans-projects-south-lake-tahoe-and-echo-summit-set-resume-may).
QuoteThe timing on this project depends on the Utah company that is building the girders. They still have to be cast and delivered but as of this time, the contractor Q & D is planning on full closure of Echo Summit May 8-22. Crews will arrive in the next couple of weeks and begin setting up the construction site.
I found a photo from last summer, when they were doing the setup work, on one of the Caltrans Twitter feeds, illustrating the tight workspace.
(https://i.imgur.com/i12TNVY.jpg)
Lovely photo, thank you for passing it on!
The bridge replacement will proceed (http://southtahoenow.com/story/04/21/2020/full-closure-us50-over-echo-summit-planned-june) but the bulk of the work including the full closure has now been delayed until early June. Doing the full closure after Memorial Day would be unthinkable in normal times due to the economic impact on the South Tahoe area, but here in the first half of 2020 there's no economy to impact.
QuoteThe current schedule:
Until May 22 - Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Friday 7:00 a.m. to noon with one-way alternating traffic control to prepare the worksite.
Tuesday, May 26 until Sunday, May 31 - Around-the-clock one-way traffic control
June 1 until June 14 - Complete closure for bridge girder replacement work.
I think it's probably safe to say that given the Governor's stance at the moment that Memorial Day is a good bet this year. I might be remembering incorrectly but wasn't the original full closure supposed to be far longer than two weeks?
The full closure has always been quoted as 10-14 days. There will be a functional new bridge at that point, but project completion won't be until the fall so there will be plenty of flagger delays and probably occasional short closures for a while.
Edit: And now the job is postponed until after Labor Day 2020. I give up on trying to keep up with the postponements; the latest will be on the Caltrans public information web site (https://www.way2tahoe.com/) and on the related Twitter feed (https://twitter.com/way2tahoe).