Content description:
The Tribune clipping, dated July 12, 1959, attached to the back of the photo reads "ROAD AROUND TRUCKEE--Due to open in November is this section of Highway 40 freeway bypassing Truckee (foreground) to the east end of Donner Lake (upper right). The view is toward the west. The job is one of three projects to provide a full freeway from Donner Lake to Floriston near the Nevada State line. Paving on the section is to begin Monday. The three projects will cost approximately $20,000,000--$1,000,000 a mile. They were scheduled ahead of other projects to prepare for the 1960 Winter Olympics at Olympic Valley, whose access road [now Highway 89 JM 10/24/2000] now joins the freeway above Truckee. Highway 40 starts at upper right in this photo, angles off to a point near the left edge at photo center and then angles to the right corner. The overpasses on Highway 40 [later Interstate 80] clear Hiway 40. The Southern Pacific railroad tracks [the SP main east/west route JM 10/24/2000] enter the photo at the left center edge and exit at the right lower corner. [Other identifiable features are the entrance to Coldstream Canyon, route of many emigrant parties in the late 1840's to early 1850's, at top center, and the lumber yard and railroad siding (for storing winter snow moving equipment) at center bottom. Also the north bank of the Truckee River is at the left center edge. Personal knowledge JM 10/24/2000]