The state transportation board Monday approved a $14.9 million contract to repave part of Kingsbury Grade between Daggett Pass and Highway 50 along the shores of Lake Tahoe.
The contract went to Q&D Construction of Reno. Work will begin in May and engineers say there will be considerable disruption to area residents.
Deputy Director John Terry said there will be some road closures but that a lot of work will be done at night to minimize traffic problems.
There will be times when the road is closed to through traffic but Terry said it will be open to locals who need to get to and from home.
Plans are to completely repave the 3.86 mile stretch of the highway.
The price tag is nearly double the original $8 million engineer’s estimate because of problems discovered since that estimate was made including natural springs flowing under the pavement causing potholes and erosion.
In addition to controlling and channeling those natural springs sidewalks will be installed at several intersections to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act along with lighting to improve safety.
A significant cost was added in the plan to redesign the intersection of Tramway Drive so that motorists turning left can better see oncoming traffic.
Kingsbury Grade winds up the east side of the Sierra from Foothill Road south of Genoa over Daggett Pass and down into the Tahoe Basin, ending at Highway 50 in Stateline.