Title
Department of Transportation recommending the Board adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 173-2025 establishing a weight restriction on Lake Tahoe Boulevard and North Upper Truckee Road.
(District 5)
FUNDING: Road Fund. (100%)
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Department of Transportation, Maintenance and Operations Division (Transportation) reviewed sections of Lake Tahoe Boulevard, North Upper Truckee Road, and Sawmill Road for weight restriction purposes, which was initially brought to the Traffic Advisory Committee on April 17, 2024, to increase public safety for a variety of reasons. The proposed new restrictions would facilitate the orderly movement of traffic during snow removal events, improve snow removal operations, reduce the potential for damaging two (2) shallow drainpipes crossing under the roads, and prevent large commercial vehicles from avoiding the agricultural check station and/or chain control checkpoints.
During the review process, it was found that navigation apps have increasingly routed US Highway 50 through traffic, including large commercial vehicles, onto Lake Tahoe Boulevard, North Upper Truckee Road, and Sawmill Road. Portions of the three (3) roads are two (2) lane roads and pass through primarily residential and forested areas. Historically, medium and large-sized commercial vehicles have frequently attempted to traverse these roads to bypass congestion on US Highway 50, only to become stuck and/or slide off the roadway, requiring large tow trucks to remove them.
Transportation staff developed four (4) possible alternatives and presented the options to the South Lake Tahoe Traffic Advisory Committee on August 14, 2025.
The following, Alternative Three (3), is the final recommendation that was approved by the South Lake Tahoe Traffic Advisory Committee:
Resolution No. 141A-89
ADD:
“(c) Lake Tahoe Boulevard (No. 2204) weight limit of 14,000 pounds from Sawmill Road (No. 2202) to North Upper Truckee Road (No. ...
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