The I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East - Hyak to Keechelus Dam project extends
5 miles from milepost 55.1 to 59.9.
Take a virtual tour tour of the Hyak to Keechelus Dam portion of the I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East project:
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November 2009
- We are now accepting bids from pre-qualified contractors for the second construction contract of the I-90 Project.
- We have completed construction activities on the first I-90 contract!
- Crews built a detour bridge near the Gold Creek area 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.
Overview
WSDOT will improve approximately five miles of I-90 between Hyak and Keechelus Dam. Improvements include adding an additional lane in each direction between milepost 55.1 and 59.9, extending chain on and off areas, expanding the snowshed, building new bridges over Rocky Run, Gold Creek, and Resort Creek, and adding oversized culverts at Wolfe, Resort and Townsend Creeks. WSDOT will also improve safety along I-90 by reducing sharp curves, repairing deteriorated pavement, stabilizing unstable slopes, installing avalanche fences, and connecting wildlife habitats over and under the highway.
Why is WSDOT
improving I-90 from Hyak to Keechelus Dam?
The Hyak to Keechelus Dam project is the first step toward improving safety, reducing congestion, and preserving the natural environment along the I-90 corridor.
On an average day, 27,000 vehicles travel over Snoqualmie Pass; on weekends and holidays, traffic volumes can exceed 50,000 vehicles a day. Traffic volumes are expected to increase 2.1% every year, reaching over 41,000 vehicles by 2030.
I-90 across Snoqualmie Pass is a strategic freight corridor due to the international, domestic and intrastate trade that it carries. Thirty-five million tons of freight cargo, or $500 billion worth of goods, crosses I-90 Snoqualmie Pass every year.
The End Result
WSDOT will increase capacity by 50% in each direction, improve safety by stabilizing slopes and straightening sharp curves. Reducing the amount of closures due to avalanches will increase the reliability of Snoqualmie Pass when the project opens to traffic in 2015.
Project Benefits
- Safety. Corrective measures will reduce the risk of avalanche and associated road closures within the project area as well as reduce the risk of rock and debris slides from unstable slopes onto the roadway.
- Congestion Relief. WSDOT will increase capacity by 50% in each direction to accommodate projected traffic volumes for the next 20 years.
- Environment. WSDOT will minimize impacts to the environment, improve ecological connectivity, and increase the size and number of culverts from the creeks to Keechelus Lake.
What is the project timeline?
1999 - Environmental Impact Statement scoping period
2005 - Summer - Draft EIS public hearings comment
period
2006 - June - Preferred Alternative identified
2008 - Summer - Publish Final EIS and issue Record of
Decision (ROD)
2009 - March - Award first construction contract
July - Begin construction
Financial Information
This project is funded through the following sources:
- 2005 Transportation Partnership Package - $595 million*
- Total Funding Available from all sources - $595 million
*As approved in the 2009 Transportation Budget.
For project schedules and updates, please see the Quarterly Project Report.
How can I get more information?
Contact:
For additional details, to leave comments, ask questions, or if you would like to arrange a presentation for your group or organization, please contact:
Randall S. Giles
Project Director
WSDOT South Central Region
1710 S. 24th Avenue, Suite 100
Yakima, WA 98902
Phone: 1.509.577.1879, or
toll-free 1.888.535.0738
E-mail: I90Snoq@wsdot.wa.gov
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