Date:  Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Contact: Brian White, WSDOT Assist. Regional Administrator for Development, 
(509) 577-1874 
Jason Smith, WSDOT I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East Environmental Manager 
(509) 577-1921 
Amy Danberg, I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East Communications, (206) 962-9635

YAKIMA – The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) along with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) have released the I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East Project Final Environmental Impact Statement.

"Publishing the I-90 Project Final EIS is a significant milestone that gets us one step closer to beginning construction in 2009," said Paula Hammond, Secretary of Transportation. "This project addresses three of our most significant transportation priorities – safety, preserving the system and congestion. It's imperative that we take measures today to ensure that I-90 east of Snoqualmie Pass remains a safe and reliable freight and travel corridor connecting eastern and western Washington."

The Final EIS contains information on how WSDOT addressed the comments from the draft EIS, identified a preferred alternative, and updated information on a wide range of environmental and engineering topics, including air quality, water resources, noise, cultural resources, transportation, economics, design challenges, fish and wildlife, and wetlands.

The I-90 project will improve public safety and increase the reliability of a critical 15-mile corridor east of Snoqualmie Pass by straightening roadway curves, stabilizing rock slopes, replacing deteriorating concrete pavement, adding capacity, and improving bridges, culverts, and ecological connections. The completed project, which will reduce road closures due to avalanches, will make the movement of people and goods on this vital cross-state corridor more efficient while preserving and improving the environment affected by the project. Construction is scheduled to begin on the first five miles of the project in 2009.

WSDOT will host a series of four open houses Sept. 9, Sept. 11, Sept. 16, and Sept. 18 to discuss the environmental impact statement’s findings. Please join WSDOT any of the following open houses:

September 9
Central Washington University
Student Union Bldg. Ballroom
400 E. University Ave.
Ellensburg, WA 98926
4 to 7 p.m.

September 11
Summit Lodge
Red Mountain Room
603 State Route 906
Snoqualmie Pass, WA 98068
4 to 7 p.m.

September 16
Lewis Creek Visitors Center
5808 Lakemont Blvd.
Bellevue, WA 98008
4 to 7 p.m.

Members of the public may also attend an online virtual open house on Thursday, September 18 from 4 to 7 p.m.

More than 5,000 copies of the Final EIS were distributed to members of the public, government agencies, tribes, and libraries. If you would like to review or request a copy of the Final EIS, or to register for the virtual open house, please visit our Web site.

< Back to News Home