Date:  Sunday, February 10, 2008

Contact:  
Alice Fiman, WSDOT Communications, (360) 705-7351 (Olympia)
Jamie Swift, WSDOT Communications, (360) 507-4261 (Snoqualmie Pass Contact)

Updated, 9 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 10.

OPEN

I-90 SNOQUALMIE PASS - Eastbound and westbound Interstate 90 across Snoqualmie Pass opened to traffic about 12:15 a.m. Sunday, February 10, after being closed since Thursday due to heavy wet snow on the roadway brought down by avalanche control work. Drivers may want to wait a few hours before crossing the pass, as initial backups and congestion are expected. They should anticipate single-lane closures as crews continue their work to improve roadway conditions.

Traction tires are advised and oversized loads are prohibited. Drivers should be cautious and prepare to slow down for slushy road conditions and standing water on the roadway.

WSDOT crews on Snoqualmie Pass cleared massive amounts of snow during nearly 20 hours of avalanche control work between Friday morning and Saturday morning. Work continued throughout Saturday to remove snow from the roadway and uncover drains to allow standing water to drain.

“Our crews made the difference today,” said Todd Trepanier, WSDOT South Central assistant regional administrator for Maintenance and Operations. “Weather had given us a real challenge on the mountain, but these crews seem to always do what it takes.”

US 12 WHITE PASS - US 12 opened at 9 a.m. today. Friday, the pass closed from milepost 135 (Coal Creek Drive) to milepost 186 (junction of US 12/SR 410).

SR 542 MOUNT BAKER - SR 542 Mount Baker Highway east of Glacier (mp 34) opened at 6 a.m. Sunday.

SPOKANE - For close to three weeks, crews in the Spokane area have been fighting snowfall followed by high winds. The areas near Davenport and Colfax have been pounded. Today, all state highways are open and WSDOT crews are coordinating with Spokane County and assisting where possible. The Spokane area received close to 40 inches of snow in January, the fourth highest January snowfall in recorded history. The third-highest January snowfall came back in 1954.

CLOSED

US 2 STEVENS PASS - US 2 remains closed between milepost 56 (Deception Creek) and milepost 99 (Leavenworth), which includes Stevens Pass. The highway will likely remain closed all day Sunday while crews work on removing several large slides from the highway. At Tunnel Creek three miles west of the summit (milepost 61), crews worked today on a 200-foot long, 35-foot deep natural avalanche full of snow, trees and rocks. They were able to remove the top six feet of snow with heavy machinery such as Sno Cats, loaders, dump trucks and snow blowers.

In addition to the Tunnel Creek slide, other slides have come down in the US 2 Tumwater Canyon area. Because of avalanche danger, crews will not be allowed to remove snow from those slides until avalanche teams can assess the area Sunday morning. At that time they will also reassess the conditions of the avalanche zones on both sides of the Stevens Pass summit. Additional avalanche control work is likely on Sunday if the forecasted heavy, wet snow falls again tonight.

Temperatures along US 2 today have been above freezing and the snow pack at the summit has shrunk from 155 inches to 149. Light rain has fallen off and on all day. Where avalanches are not covering the road surface, conditions are bare and wet.

SR 20 NEWHALEM -  Two snowslides block SR 20 between Newhalem and Diablo, cutting off access for Seattle City Light residents and workers in Diablo. The largest of the two slides is estimated to be 35 feet deep and 200 feet long. Crews will assess conditions Sunday to determine when it might be possible to open the road. This is the second time in as many weeks that snowslides have blocked the highway. The SR 20 hotline (360) 707-5056 has the most current information for area residents.

Motorists can get the most up-to-date pass conditions at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/passes. 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 visiting www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/trafficalerts/. Oregon road information can be found at www.tripcheck.com.

See WSDOT’s Flickr site for winter photos at: www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot

Read the Winter Avalanche Story and leave a comment on our blog at: www.wsdotblog.blogspot.com 

What can drivers do? If you must go out, please remember:

• On ice and snow, take it slow
• Pay extra attention to bridges, curves and shady spots
• Stay back from snow clearing equipment
• Allow more time to travel
• Keep a safe driving distance from the vehicle in front of you
• Turn off the cruise control
• At www.wsdot.wa.gov/winter, drivers can find a list of winter emergency kit items, more safe driving tips and information on mountain pass travel advisories.

Know before you go:

• WSDOT offers several ways to get up-to-date traffic and construction information from our Web site at www.wsdot.wa.gov before you leave your home or office
• At www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/passes, drivers can look at mountain pass conditions throughout the state
• At www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/trafficalerts, the color-coded map shows statewide traffic conditions, including construction delays and highway incidents
• WSDOT offers weather information and road temperatures at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/weather
• 511 - This driver information phone line provides real-time traffic, incident and closure information. Have a passenger call 511 for current traffic and weather information. TTY users can call 1-800-833-6388. Out of state callers can use 1-800-695-ROAD (7623).
• Drivers with Web service on their cellular phones and PDAs can access the Seattle area traffic flow map, ferry schedules, mountain pass reports at www.wsdot.wa.gov/small

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