Date:  Thursday, January 01, 2009

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

Media Contacts:
Lloyd Brown, WSDOT Communications, 360-789-9232 (Olympia) Patrick Conrad, WSDOT Communications, 206-437-6314 (Seattle) Mike Westbay, WSDOT Communications, 509-728-4712 (Yakima) Jeff Adamson, WSDOT Communications 509-667-2815 (Wenatchee) Lisa Murdock, WSDOT Communications, 360-507-1854 (Olympic Region) Melanie Coon, WSDOT Communications, 360-507-4242 (Southwest Washington) Al Gilson, WSDOT Communications, 509-324-6015 (Spokane)

OLYMPIA – Washington’s mountain passes are experiencing heavy snowfall and the avalanche risk to state highways through the mountains is extremely high.

As of 10:30 a.m., all three major mountain passes are closed due to avalanche control and snow slides. Weather forecasters are predicting as much as five to six feet of snow in the Cascade Mountains through Saturday. Travelers planning to cross the mountain passes through the weekend can expect weather impacts and travel delays.

"We are ready with all available resources, but with the avalanche danger so high, we first need to make sure conditions are safe for our crews and then for the public," said Paula Hammond, Secretary of Transportation.

The snow is forecast to turn to rain later today, creating extreme avalanche danger for I-90 at Snoqualmie Pass. Currently I-90 is closed for the night from North Bend to Cle Elum. WSDOT crews are monitoring the snow pack, and avalanche control is underway.

US 12 (White Pass) is closed overnight except for local traffic from just east of Packwood (milepost 135) to junction with SR 410 (milepost 185) due to a natural snow slide at the Rimrock Tunnel, 25 miles west of Naches. Crews are assessing the slide area. Clearing operations are underway.

US 2 (Stevens Pass) is closed overnight. WSDOT also is closing Tumwater Canyon (milepost 82 to milepost 100) to clean up natural snow slides.

Due to the intensity of the forecast snowfall, and the potential to turn to rain, it is likely I-90 Snoqualmie Pass will see limited openings for several days.

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 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.

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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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