TAHOE CITY/TRUCKEE ” The orange cones growing on the highway are finally starting to wilt, as major projects throughout the region pack it up for the season.

On State Route 89 from the Tahoe City “Y” to north of Squaw Valley, work wrapped on a $13 million project to improve the treatment of storm-water runoff and widen and resurface the highway. Completion is expected in 2009.

Other Caltrans projects, including work around Kings Beach and Interstate 80 on Donner Pass, have also been suspended for the winter.

The last of Truckee’s roadwork halted on Friday, when contractors buttoned down work along Donner Lake on Donner Pass Road.

“We’re two-thirds done, maybe more,” said Truckee Senior Engineer Todd Landry. “All the major drainage work is done.”

Next spring work will pick up with grading, grinding down the road, and resurfacing wider to allow for two bike lanes along the road, he said.

“We’ll be back in May and hope to be done in June before the tourist season,” he said.