The tunnels carry U.S. Route 50 through Cave Rock, a mountain on the eastern shore of Lake Tahoe.

Originally the Lincoln Highway was routed along a single lane hanging bridge and rock wall built in 1863.

Concerned about damaging Cave Rock, the project managers employed key people from the recently completed Zion-Mt.

[5] After a 2015 rockslide, and observations of more unstable rock in the area, the Nevada Department of Transportation initiated a safety improvement and retrofit project in 2016.

In 2007, the Federal Government ruled on a precedent-setting case that has restricted activities around the tunnel, such as rock climbing.