Date:
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Contact:
Mike Westbay, WSDOT Communications, (509) 577-1617 (Yakima/east side of White Pass)
Jamie Holter, WSDOT Communications, (206) 719-7535 (Snoqualmie Pass)
Al Gilson, WSDOT Communications, 509-324-6015 (Spokane)
Jeff Adamson, WSDOT Communications (509) 667-2815 (Stevens Pass)
Sylvia Ross, WSDOT Communications, (360) 905-2058 (Vancouver/west side of White Pass)
Travis Phelps, WSDOT Communications, (206) 440-4788 (Seattle)
Kelly Stowe, WSDOT Communications, (253) 536-6228 (Tacoma)
Emily Pace, WSDOT Communications, (360) 705-7351 (Olympia)
UPDATED: 7 a.m. Friday, Feb. 8
OLYMPIA – WSDOT crews currently have I-90 Snoqualmie Pass and US 2 Stevens Pass open.
WSDOT is still working to open US 12 White Pass, SR 20 near Newhalem, areas south of Spokane near US 2 and the Palouse south of Spokane.
In the central Puget Sound area and through much of Southwest Washington, winds are decreasing but the rains should continue. Heavy snow is expected overnight in the mountains and Eastern Washington will continue to see high winds, blowing snow and poor visibility.
OPEN
I-90 Snoqualmie Pass and US 2 Stevens Pass are open at this hour.
Overnight, crews closed I-90 over Snoqualmie Pass for avalanche control. Large accumulations of snow on the shoulders of I-90 in locations near Lake Keechelus required crews to use graders and snow blowers move the snow from the westbound lanes to the eastbound lanes, then from the eastbound lanes over the bank. The process can extend the closures longer than normal.
On US 2 Stevens Pass, crew closed the pass Friday as extremely high winds, up to 100 mph, caused white-out conditions. The pass is now open but drivers should expect blowing snow. Chains are required for all vehicles except four-wheel/all-wheel drive. Avalanche control, and 20-minute delays, are expected between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. Saturday.
CLOSED:
US 12 WHITE PASS: Crews are clearing multiple snow slides covering US 12 over White Pass. The US 12 White Pass closure extends from mile post 136 (near Packwood) to mile post 165 (junction with SR 410 near Naches) to remove the snow from both ends by blowing and plowing. Due to continuing high winds and avalanche threats, crews expect to open US 12 White Pass early Friday.
SPOKANE: In the areas south and west of Spokane, high winds and visibility problems have led WSDOT to close several sections of highway. The most recent road conditions area available at: http://wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/trafficalerts/. The areas near Davenport and Colfax have been pounded. Although snowfall has stopped, winds in the rural areas are still blowing snow across roadways creating serious visibility concerns. 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.
NEWHALEM: At 1:30 p.m. Thursday, WSDOT crews decided that it is not safe to work on SR 20 in the Newhalem slide area. With the rain we are now receiving the snow is heavy, and they are expecting more slides. We will look again at this situation today. The SR 20 hotline (360-707-5056) has the most current information for area residents.
See WSDOT’s Flickr site for winter photos from I-90 and sites near Spokane at: www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot
Watch some video footage of Stevens pass clearing and read the Winter Avalanche Story or just 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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