Highway 50 Reopens After Avalanche Near Echo Summit

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE (CBS SF) -- Crews have cleared snow and rocks brought down onto Highway 50 by an avalanche near Echo Summit Monday afternoon, authorities said.

Several snow slides had shut down one of the major traffic routes into and out of the Tahoe Basin starting at about 12 p.m.

The El Dorado County Sheriff's Department said the snow slide closed the highway on Monday afternoon at the start of a busy travel week with spring breakers heading into the area to ski.

Deputies say one car got stuck shortly after 12:30 p.m. but crews were able to dig it out. There have been no reports of any injuries.

Initially, officials said that the roadway might be shut down for the rest of the day as the snow is cleared and the area checked for loose snow and rocks. Highway 80 to the north part of the lake remains open without chain requirements.

Caltrans later issued an update that crews were working to clear several snow slides and aimed to reopen Highway 50 by 5 p.m.

The agency confirmed just before 5 p.m. that the roadway had reopened and cautioned drivers traveling through the area to remain watchful.

The National Weather Service said a new weather front was projected to move into the area Monday night, bringing as much as 3 inches of new snow to the summit.

• Avalanche