NDOT wraps up first year of US-50 repaving at Lake Tahoe

The Nevada Department of Transportation has completed the first season of a two-year project to repave and enhance U.S. 50 between Spooner Summit and the Nevada/California border at Stateline, Lake Tahoe. As of Oct. 24, drivers will no longer see lane reductions or other traffic control related to the project.

Season of Success

Crews paved the highway in front of the highest-density commercial areas this year, including new highway surface through the Stateline casino corridor. Crews have made the following highway improvements since construction began in April:

• Paved five and a half miles of U.S. 50 from the Stateline area to just south of Cave Rock, an equivalent of 22 individual lane miles.
• A one-mile section of U.S. 50 was not paved from Round Hill to Zephyr Cove this season. With continuation of drainage improvements as part of the Nevada Tahoe Conservation District project at Bourne Meadow, this will also help avoid any possible damage to the new pavement during the drainage work. Crews will repave the section of highway next year, preventing two separate seasons of construction in the area by constructing important roadside drainage and water quality improvements while paving next year.
• Installed 13 miles, or 228,000 feet, of Intelligent Traffic Systems (ITS) underground conduit line to further connect and power roadway cameras, road/weather information systems, traffic counters, traffic flow detectors, automated chain/snow tire control signage, and more.
• More than 2,000 feet of existing culvert pipes were reinforced, and more than 15,000 feet of new roadside curb and gutter installed, helping protect Lake Tahoe clarity by channeling stormwater into designated drainage systems.

2026 Season Ahead

Motorists will see the following traffic changes again April through October 2026 as crews pave and improve the remaining section of highway during the final construction season: 

• Single lane closures will take place Sundays at 8 p.m. through Fridays at noon on sections of U.S. 50 between Spooner Summit to the Nevada/California border at Stateline.
• A minimum of one lane in each direction will stay open at all times.
• Speeds will be reduced to 35mph through work zones

• While access to businesses and residences will be continuously maintained in most areas, certain side streets and driveways will temporarily be impacted as roadway excavation takes place in the immediate area. Steel plates and earthwork will then be used after excavation to reestablish side street access
• Drivers can anticipate moderate travel delays through the work zone
• Lane reductions will not take place during major holidays or special events
• Construction schedule is weather permitting and subject to change
• Intermittent sidewalk closures will take place in the casino corridor, with pedestrian access remaining available

Once completed

When completed next year, the project will ultimately resurface just over 13 miles of U.S. 50 from the Nevada/California border at Stateline to the Spooner Summit Trailhead near the U.S. 50/State Route 28 intersection. The resurfacing will provide a smoother, safer drive for the approximately 26,000 drivers who travel the busy stretch of highway daily.

• Three inches of aging roadway surface will be removed and replaced with new asphalt.
• Between Spooner Summit and Glenbrook, two double yellow lines in the median will create a two-foot separation between traffic directions to reduce potential head-on crashes and enhance safety.
• To also help reduce cross-over crashes, centerline rumble strips will be placed between Spooner Pass and Glenbrook and other select areas to help alert and correct drivers who may unintentionally leave their lane.
• Certain sections of roadside guardrail will also be replaced or upgraded to concrete barrier rail to enhance safety.
• Existing asphalt curbs will be replaced with concrete curbing to better withstand winter snow removal activities. 
• Drainage improvements will reduce roadway water ponding.
• A fiber optic trunk line will also be installed to expand NDOT’s communications network, connect intelligent transportation systems, and provide a pathway for other communications services.

The resurfacing will not reduce the number of highway lanes and will not include major turn lane or intersection reconfigurations. 

Additional state highway information is available at dot.nv.gov or by calling (775) 888-7000. Also follow @NevadaDOTReno on Twitter for traffic and project updates in northern Nevada, and @nevadadot on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for updates from across the state.

The post NDOT wraps up first year of US-50 repaving at Lake Tahoe appeared first on Carson Now.