Date:
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Contact:
Claudia Cornish or Emily Pace, (360) 705-7351 (Olympia)
UPDATED: 8:45 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31
OLYMPIA – WSDOT crews across the Cascade Mountains and Eastern Washington continue to fight snow and wind.
CLOSED
At this hour, a 72-mile section of I-90 remains closed to all traffic due to extreme avalanche dangers and high volumes of snow. The closure extends from Edgewick at milepost 34 to Ellensburg at milepost 106, and includes Snoqualmie Pass. Throughout the night, WSDOT maintenance crews will continue to clear snow and monitor avalanche conditions. At 9 a.m. tomorrow, WSDOT will assess its ability to reopen the highway based on conditions at that time.
Motorists traveling towards Seattle are advised to use the following route: exit I-90 at Ellensburg and take eastbound I-82 to the junction of I-82 and I-84. Take westbound I-84 to the I-5 junction in Portland. Go north on I-5 into Western Washington.
Motorists traveling towards Spokane are advised to use the following route: take I-5 south to Portland, then go east on I-84 to the junction of I-84 and I-82. Take westbound I-82 to Ellensburg. Take I-90 east into Eastern Washington.
Eastern Washington is still facing extreme winter driving conditions between Moses Lake and the Idaho border. Roadway sections on SR 27, SR 272 and SR 20 are still closed due to snow that has drifted across the highway in numerous locations, making them impassable.
OPEN
Earlier today, US 2 across Stevens Pass was closed because of multiple collisions and spinouts. Crews took advantage of the closure to induce avalanches and clear the resultant snow that fell onto the highway. Around 6 p.m. US 2 reopened to all traffic and has remained open. Chains are required on all vehicles except all-wheel drive vehicles.
Also earlier today, the Oregon Department of Transportation closed I-84, one of the primary east-west routes through northern Oregon, due to blowing snow and hazardous driving conditions. Mid-afternoon, ODOT reopened I-84 to all traffic. Motorists are advised to expect continued difficult driving conditions.
US 12 over White Pass is open. WSDOT crews are working around the clock to keep this east-west route open and drivers safe. US 12 is a two-lane mountain pass highway and has received four feet of snow in the past five days. Drivers can expect extreme winter weather, chain requirements and sudden closures.
All motorists driving on routes through the Cascades Mountains and into Eastern Washington should expect extreme winter driving conditions, snow, ice and delays. WSDOT recommends that all drivers prepare for winter driving by properly preparing their vehicles, carrying chains, extra food and water, and reviewing winter driving tips at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/winter/.
Motorists can find the latest information on mountain passes by visiting www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/passes. Oregon road information can be found at http://www.tripcheck.com/.
The latest forecast calls for heavy snow throughout the weekend, with two additional feet by Friday evening. Also warming temperatures, with wetter, heavier snow is expected at Snoqualmie Pass.
WSDOT realizes the vital role I-90 plays as an east-west freight and passenger corridor. Crews are doing everything possible to reopen the highway, including pulling in resources from Bellevue and Yakima to clear snow.
See WSDOT’s Flickr site for winter photos from I-90 and sites near Spokane at: www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot/ Read the Winter Avalanche Story and leave a comment on our blog at: http://wsdotblog.blogspot.com/
What can drivers do?
*Know before you go and check the Web pages before you head out to snowy areas. Bookmark http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ <http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/>
*Visit the 511 traveler information system to get up to date information about road closures.
*Be prepared and keep a winter car kit in your vehicle. You can find winter driving information and items for the kit at www.wsdot.wa.gov/winter/
*Remember, ice and snow, take it slow
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