Department offers new web-based "virtual open house" in addition to live event
I-90 SNOQUALMIE PASS – The Washington State Department of Transportation has finished evaluating several construction design alternatives for improving the five-mile section of I-90 from Hyak to Easton, east of the Snoqualmie Pass. Transportation Secretary Doug MacDonald will announce the preferred alternative at the Summit Inn at Snoqualmie Pass on Tuesday, June 20.
The public is invited to the event at the Summit Inn, 603 State Route 906 (I-90 Exit 53 at the summit of Snoqualmie Pass). WSDOT is also offering public participation via a "virtual open house" on the internet. Those interested will be able to see and hear the presentations, watch the design visualization video, see the displays and pose questions to WSDOT experts. The public can access the web-based event by visiting the project website at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I90/SnoqualmiePassEast/ and following the link to the open house; the internet and live events will run from 5:30-8 p.m.
The virtual open house is a first for WSDOT. Because the I-90 corridor is critical to freight, business and vacation travelers, WSDOT is hoping to reach out to the thousands of people who cannot physically make it to an open house. This virtual open house will allow people from Bellevue to Boston to share their ideas about this vital commerce corridor.
The selection of the preferred alternative is also an important milestone for the I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East Hyak to Keechelus Dam Transportation Partnership project. The project will make this critical section of I-90 safer for drivers and wildlife while improving traffic flow. Reaching consensus on the preferred alternative required unprecedented cooperation among governmental, environmental, and business interests. WSDOT engineers can now move forward with the design, bringing the project that much closer to the start of construction. Project details are available online at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I90/HyaktoKeechelusDam/
In addition to the announcement of the construction alternative, the winner of the Wildlife Bridges Coalition’s I-90 project drawing contest will be announced.
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Drivers can get current traffic and weather information by dialing 5-1-1 from most phones. This new traveler information system builds upon the highly successful Washington State Highway hotline that managed 4.6 million calls each year. Callers can also use 5-1-1 to get statewide construction travel advisories, mountain pass conditions, and state ferry system information, as well as toll-free numbers for passenger rail and airlines. TTY users can call 1-800-833-6388.