Date:  Monday, January 05, 2009

Contact: Mike Westbay, WSDOT Communications, 509-577-1617 (Yakima)

Public Road Condition Inquiries: Call 5-1-1/ out of state callers call 1-800-695-ROAD (7623).

HYAK– Currently I-90 is closed from North Bend to Ellensburg. WSDOT crews are monitoring the snow pack, and avalanche control work will be done at several locations throughout the day. No estimated time of reopening has been established.

Washington’s mountain passes are experiencing heavy snowfall and the avalanche risk to I-90 Snoqualmie Pass is extremely high. Windy conditions are making visibility very difficult.

Both Stevens Pass and White Pass are open.

Several highways in Eastern Washington are closed due to blowing and drifting snow.

All state routes in Whitman County are closed due to blowing and drifting snow, with the exception of SR 270 between Pullman and Moscow. All available equipment and crews are on duty.

SR 129 in Asotin County is also closed due to heavy snowfall, blowing and drifting snow and high avalanche danger.

Know Before you go:

• Get information from our Web site at www.wsdot.wa.gov before you leave your home or office.
• Mountain pass conditions are available at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/passes/
• At www.wsdot.wa.gov/winter, drivers can find WSDOT’s winter driving-related information, including preparing a vehicle for winter driving, safe driving tips and mountain pass travel advisories. The WSDOT winter site also offers information about chains, winter tires and how WSDOT maintenance crews work in winter weather.
• On WSDOT’s Web site, www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/weather, drivers can look roadway temperatures and see camera images from across the state.
• At www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/trafficalerts, a map shows highway incidents and closures.
• Sign up for news. WSDOT offers subscribers more than 25 specialized e-mail alerts, including news and information for freight haulers, construction related traffic revisions, project updates from all around the state, and timely updates on pass conditions. Click the link for "E-mail updates."
• Twitter users can add WSDOT to their personal accounts at: www.twitter.com/wsdot/. Go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/inform/twitter for more details.
• 511 - This driver information phone line provides current traffic, incident and closure information. TTY users can call 1-800-833-6388. Out-of-state callers can access the information at call 1-800-695-ROAD (7623).

On the Road:

• Overhead and roadside electronic signs
• Highway advisory radio - WSDOT advises drivers to program 530AM and 1610AM on your radio.

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WSDOT keeps people, businesses and the economy moving by operating and improving the state's transportation systems. To learn more about what we're doing, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/news for pictures, videos, news and blogs. Real time traffic information is available at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic or by dialing 5-1-1.

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