(Editor’s note) As of 8:30 p.m. Thursday, the Washington State Department of Transportation opened the east and westbound lanes of I-90 at Snoqualmie Pass. However, chains are required on all vehicles except those with all-wheel drive.
U.S. Highway 2 through Stevens Pass remains closed.
Original DOT story from Thursday afternoon follows. Check back for regular updates.
Unless conditions change, Washington’s three main east-west mountain passes are expected to remain closed to traffic overnight. Another storm headed for Washington is expected to dump more snow on the Cascades overnight, which will keep the danger of avalanches high for mountain highways US 2, US 12 and I-90.
The storm also could bring more snow and possibly high winds to large portions of eastern Washington from Yakima to Spokane. The potential for blowing snow could complicate travel for winter-weary drivers.
“Once we get through this next storm overnight we can assess the situation in the daylight and determine whether the passes can open tomorrow,” said Paula Hammond, Secretary of Transportation. “Drivers throughout Washington should anticipate winter driving conditions even as our crews continue to address avalanche dangers in our major mountain passes.”
I-90 remains closed from North Bend (milepost 34) to Cle Elum (milepost 85). US 12 (White Pass) is closed from just east of Packwood (milepost 135) to junction with SR 410 (milepost 185). US 2 Stevens Pass remains closed from Scenic (milepost 58) to Leavenworth (milepost 100).
Motorists traveling from eastern Washington to western Washington are advised to use the following route: from I-90 at Ellensburg, take eastbound I-82 to the junction of I-82 and I-84. Take westbound I-84 to the I-5 junction in Portland. Go north on I-5 into western Washington.
Motorists traveling from western Washington to eastern Washington are advised to use the following route: take I-5 south to Portland, then go east on I-84 to the junction of I-84 and I-82. Take westbound I-82 to Ellensburg. Take I-90 east into eastern Washington.
Other highway closures include:
• SR 410 from Mud Mountain Dam (milepost 74) to Crystal Mountain Boulevard (milepost 57) near Enumclaw due to downed trees and power lines over the roadway.
• SR 142 from milepost 16 to milepost 18 due to a power line over the roadway.
Know Before you go:
• Get information from our Web site at www.wsdot.wa.gov before you leave your home or office.
• 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).
• 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 at 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. Visit www.wsdot.wa.gov and click the link for “E-mail updates.”
• Twitter users can add WSDOT to their personal accounts at: http://twitter.com/wsdot/. Go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/inform/twitter for more details.
On the Road:
• Overhead and roadside electronic signs
• Highway advisory radio – WSDOT advises drivers to program 530AM and 1610AM on your radio.
###
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.
Talk to us
Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.
To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.
