Travelers moving smoothly through mountain passes

David A. Cole

Herald staff writer

No 30-mile backups on I-90, as predicted

MOSES LAKE — So far, travelers have not been subjected to long delays passing through the Cascade Mountains.

Traffic has been restricted on Snoqualmie Pass since Nov. 6, after boulders began to slide into the westbound lanes of Interstate 90. State transportation officials have been urging drivers since then to avoid traveling east and west along I-90 through the Cascades due to the rockslides and the subsequent cleanup.

In 2004, Washington State Department of Transportation officials counted more than 44,600 vehicles crossing I-90 on the day before Thanksgiving. This year, the state found only 29,300 making the same trip.

If traffic this weekend is as heavy as last year, however, delays could be up to five hours. The continued restrictions are necessary for work being done to prevent further rockslides.

"That's not an easy decision to make, but it's the safe decision," WSDOT spokesman Mike Westbay said.

There were no reports of traffic delays or backups on either Stevens or Snoqualmie pass through 6 a.m. today, the WSDOT reported. Traction tires are being advised on Stevens Pass with some ice and slush on the roadway.

Both passes could see total snow accumulations of 2 to 5 inches today with highs near freezing, said Tracy Cox with the National Weather Service in Spokane.

Washington State Patrol Trooper Rich Magnussen said traffic flowed smoothly Thanksgiving Day with no reports of backups in either the east or westbound lanes of I-90, with one lane open in each direction through Snoqualmie Pass.

Today, he said, two semi-trucks were jackknifed along I-90 near the Wild Horse Monument east of the Vantage Bridge over the Columbia River. Traffic is getting past the two accidents, but is advised to slow down.