Highway 89 Round Abouts Impress

Last days of autumn 2019-Nice!

      The Mayor visited Tahoe City this afternoon after reports of nice weather turned out to be true.  It's been awhile.  So, the experience of circling the new round-abouts was fun.  With almost no snow on the highway, conditions were perfect to do a few complete 360's around the center areas of each.  Unfortunately, the paved over sections only afford motorists 1 lane to make the turn.  What?  Why not two lanes as in Truckee?  Too much money?  Too cheap? Oh, well, it's CalTrans, after all.
     But at least it seemed that traffic(such as it is now) was flowing freely and easily through the circles.  Evidence on the concrete indicates that motorists are doing some "self straightening" as they turn around the bends.  We'll see how that plays out in summer.
     Has it affected things at the old intersection at Fanny Bridge?  That's a good, fair question.  It's hard to say.  Perhaps engineers who designed the plan have these answers, but they  are not obvious to casual bystanders on the bridge.
Next question
      Where's the fish sculpture?  Hmmmm.  Reports indicate there's a dispute between artist and city officials.  The sculpture was removed to facilitate construction without permission from the sculpture/owner.  He evidently wants the piece back where it belongs: where it was installed many years ago(45 years?).  The city wants a new location, more fitting to its grand dimensions and cultural identification as representative of the local environment- the Mackinaw trout of the lake.  The artist has offered the piece and rights to it for $8 million.. Hmmm.  A lot of bread for some metal fish.  But, it's art, really, and finally.
     With a little more effort, an agreement should be forthcoming.  The Mayor might have to assist in negotiations.