2005 Thanksgiving Week Travel Delays Anticipated On All Cascade Passes
Please Avoid Traveling Across The Cascades During The 2005 Thanksgiving Weekend
Giant hydraulic hammer brings down five dump-truck loads of rock. |
Photo showing the unstable slope and slip plane on the rock face. |
The Washington State Department of Transportation wants travelers to be aware that for Snoqualmie, Stevens, and White passes from Tuesday, November 22 through Monday, November 28. In the interest of public safety, the Governor’s Office,Washington State Patrol, and WSDOT are asking you to avoid traveling across the Cascades during the upcoming Thanksgiving weekend.
During a typical Thanksgiving holiday, 20,000 extra motorists travel over Snoqualmie Pass. The interstate is normally very busy during this time, and back-ups occur with snowfall or accidents. This year, Thanksgiving travel will be especially difficult because a portion of I-90 is restricted to a single-lane in each direction to allow travelers to pass safely by the emergency rock slope stabilization repair. This single lane section will be a serious chokepoint for holiday travelers crossing Snoqualmie Pass. Stevens and White passes will also be severely affected because many drivers will take alternate routes to avoid the work zone on I-90.
Back-ups, based on typical Thanksgiving travel numbers, are predicted to be up to forty miles. Drivers might experience delays of five hours or more without access to gas stations, bathrooms, and other services. These delays will be worse with foul weather or traffic collisions. If you must travel, be prepared. Fill your gas tank, check your tire treads, and be sure your car is in good condition. Carry water, food, blankets, first aid kits, medications, jumper cables, cat litter or sand, a shovel, ice scraper, warm clothes, flashlights, and extra batteries. Be ready for snow and ice. Your safety is at stake if you get stuck on the pass.
Slope Repair Progress
WSDOT's goal was to complete the emergency rock slope stabilization in time to re-open the roadway to four lanes before the rush of Thanksgiving traffic. Challenges from unstable and fractured underlying rock, damp winter conditions, broken drill bits, and short daylight hours have slowed progress.
A protection fence presently prevents falling rocks from reaching travelers, but the rock face is not yet safely stabilized. WSDOT and Wilder Construction do not have enough time left before the Thanksgiving rush begins to pull down the remaining loose rock and stabilize the slope. Traveler safety is WSDOT's utmost priority, so the rock fall protection fence and lane restriction will remain in place.
What Kind Of Travel Delays Should I Expect?
I-90 is currently restricted to a single lane in each direction to allow safe travel through the rockslide area. The lane restriction is expected to make holiday trips over Snoqualmie Pass extremely difficult. Worst case scenario delays are based on Thanksgiving traffic volumes in 2004, but weather conditions or traffic accidents could cause additional delays.
Please see our 2005 Thanksgiving Week Travel handout (pdf 133 KB) for detailed eastbound and westbound travel delay estimates.
How Can I Get More Information?