Date:
Friday, February 01, 2008
Contact:
Mike Westbay (509)452-8752 (Snoqualmie Pass)
Alice Fiman, (360) 705-7351 (Olympia)
OLYMPIA - Crews are now clearing a natural avalanche from eastbound I-90 near Snoqualmie Summit. The slide covered close to 200 feet of roadway, measuring four feet deep in some places. In addition, snow is sliding naturally off the rock slope at the east end of the East Snow Shed (mp 58.3). Heavy snow is falling at the summit, with a temperature close to 29 degrees. Seven inches of snow accumulated on Snoqualmie Pass (Summit Inn parking lot) overnight.
At 9 a.m. today, WSDOT will assess its ability to reopen the highway based on conditions at that time. Weather forecasts indicate six to eight inches of snow at Snoqualmie Pass today, with decreasing snow showers (three to four inches) this afternoon.
CLOSED
Despite 60 maintenance staff working through the night, the 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.
Motorists traveling from Eastern Washington to Western Washington 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 from Western Washington to Eastern Washington 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. (view detour map)
In addition to I-90, four other sections of highway remain closed: 1) SR 27 in Spokane County between Farmington Road (milepost 56) and Rockport (milepost 70); 2) SR 272 in Whitman County from Colfax (milepost 0) to Palouse (milepost 18); 3) SR 20 in Skagit County near the Gorge Powerhouse (milepost 121) to the vicinity of Diablo Dam Road (milepost 127); and 4) SR 504 (Spirit Lake Highway) at Bear Creek (milepost 34). WSDOT closes a portion of SR 504 every winter at Coldwater Creek, mile post 45, due to hazardous snow and ice conditions and the possibility of avalanches in some spots. It reopens in the spring after it is determined that no more significant snowfall will occur. are still closed due to snow that has drifted across the highway in numerous locations, making them impassable.
OPEN
US 12 over White Pass and US 2 over Stevens Pass are open. WSDOT crews are working around the clock to keep these east-west routes open and drivers safe. 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 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 www.tripcheck.com.
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 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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