35-mile Tahoe traffic jam prompts emergency declaration

Travelers hoping to return home on Tuesday were turned around starting 8:30 p.m. after traffic was backed up for 35 miles from Meyers to Spooner.

Traffic was inching over Echo Summit but there were so many vehicles, the City of South Lake Tahoe activated its emergency operations center.

“Due to the restricted roadways, a number of resources are at or near capacity, including gas, tow trucks, and lodging accommodations,” city officials said. “With the highways also at capacity, there are significant delays in travel time.”

With the prospect of a 10-hour trip over the Sierra, city officials advised motorists to turn around and find some place safe for the night.

“Anyone on the road risks getting stranded either from the road conditions or running out of fuel or electric charge, requiring emergency or other assistance,” according to the city. “Emergency vehicles, snowplows, and their staff are challenged with getting through the traffic, so assistance may also be delayed. Those driving an electric vehicle are encouraged to check online resources for the nearest charging stations.”

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak said he would declare an emergency related to the snow and storm conditions.

“Due to the continued winter storm, Highway 50, Kingsbury Grade and Highway 28 are experiencing very long delays, dangerous road conditions and an oncoming storm Tuesday evening,” according to the governor’s office. “State officials, including the Nevada Department of Transportation, Division of Emergency Management and Nevada State Police need to be able to clear roadways to make room for emergency vehicles and snow removal.”

The effort is to get motorists off the roads overnight where they might run out of gas in subfreezing temperatures.

Highway workers managed to open Highway 50 on Monday night, and by Tuesday morning the traffic was heading over the hill until a semi jack-knifed, blocking the road again for hours.

California Department of Transportation Officials said that Highway 50 isn’t designed to handle all the traffic leaving Nevada.