KINGS BEACH, Calif. — Crews are wrapping up work on a North Lake Tahoe highway revitalization project for this construction season.

Since work on the “Core of the Core” project began in Kings Beach in April, Highway 28 has become three lanes from four, two roundabouts were built — one at Coon Street, the other at Bear Street — sidewalks were installed with landscaping, and two stormwater treatment systems to help protect lake clarity were installed.

“It is truly impressive to see what’s been done so far in Kings Beach,” Jennifer Montgomery, District 5 supervisor for Placer County, said in a statement. “In addition to the environmental and aesthetic benefits this project will provide, it will make this jewel of the North Shore a much more walkable community.”

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Within portions of the Grid neighborhood, similar improvements have been made, including drainage, sidewalks and speed humps.

Some complaints during the work reportedly included backed up traffic and delays, ever-changing road closures in the Grid and noise.

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“We are well ahead of schedule,” Peter Kraatz, deputy director of Placer County’s Department of Public Works, said in a statement. “We appreciate the patience of the residents and visitors alike and are pleased with the work that was accomplished during the first construction season.

The Core of the Core project — expected to take at least two construction seasons — is the first phase in the $50 million, two-phased Kings Beach Commercial Core Improvement Project, an initiative to upgrade and improve the 1.1-mile section of Highway 28 through town.

When work on the Core of the Core resumes next spring, crews will focus on surface improvements, according to Placer County.

Bidding of the second phase, “Gateway to the Core,” could start in 2015 and go into 2016-17, Kraatz said.

Completion of the entire core project could be in 2017, or a season earlier, depending on progress, he said.

Visit kingsbeachcore.info to get updates and learn more about the project.