Date:  Monday, November 02, 2009

Contact: Randy Giles, I-90 Project Director (509) 577-1879
Amanda Sullivan, I-90 Communications (509) 577-1942

SNOQUALMIE PASS – WSDOT is gearing up to tackle the second construction contract of an interstate improvement project on I-90 east of Snoqualmie Pass, and is requesting bids from contractors to re-construct the corridor. The construction contract for the I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East – Hyak to Keechelus Dam project is estimated to cost between $100 million and $150 million and will support approximately 1,500 jobs over the next three years.

“This contract calls for a major overhaul of I-90 just east of Snoqualmie Pass,” said I-90 Project Director Randy Giles. “This is an important step toward making I-90 a safer, more reliable transportation corridor for freight and the traveling public.”

Set to break ground in spring 2010, this contract calls for making improvements to the first three miles of a five-mile long project corridor, starting at Hyak (milepost 55.1) and ending near the Lake Keechelus Snowshed (milepost 58.1). Improvements include:

Adding a new lane in each direction
Replacing deteriorated pavement of existing lanes and shoulders
Adding and replacing bridges and culverts
Stabilizing rock slopes
Extending chain up / off areas
Adding illumination, traffic cameras, and variable message signs
In fall 2010, WSDOT will advertise the third construction contract of the I-90 Project, which will continue making improvements on the remaining two project miles from the snowshed to Keechelus Dam. The contract is estimated to cost upward of $200 million.

Meanwhile, WSDOT and contractor crews from KLB Construction Inc. of Mukilteo have completed planned construction activities on the first construction contract of the I-90 Project. WSDOT and crews have built a long-term detour bridge over Gold Creek that will be used next year to detour traffic around the construction area. Crews also excavated approximately 265,000 cubic yards of material from Keechelus Lake to mitigate for the project’s future impacts on reservoir water storage. The materials excavated from the lake will be recycled into future construction projects. This $3.3 million contract supported over 25 jobs.

WSDOT received $595 million from the Washington State Legislature’s 2005 Transportation Partnership Account to design and construct the first five miles of the 15-mile long I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East Corridor program.

For more information on the Project, please visit: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I90/SnoqualmiePassEast/
 

                                                                  ###

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.

< Back to News Home