Unusual winter puts state's snow removal costs millions over budget

Clearing the state's highways and mountain passes of an extraordinary amount of snow this winter put the snow removal costs $8.3 million over budget.

According to the State Department of Transportation, by the end of March, labor and materials were far over budget. The state planned to use 55,000 tons of de-icer but instead used 85,000 tons. At $150 a ton, that puts the cost $4.5 million over budget.

Labor costs, too, were far exceeded, $3.8 million over what had been planned, which includes $2.2 million in regular time and $1.6 million in overtime.

Because of the unusual winter, the Legislature appropriated another $5.25 million over the $35 million budget. That leaves a $3 million deficit that will be carried into next winter. State officials are hoping a lighter-than-normal winter could make up some of those costs.

If not, said state officials, they may be going back to the Legislature for more money.

As for avalanche control, on Snoqualmie Pass as of April 3, the DOT had set off 199 detonations using 8,121 pounds of explosives, and close to 99 rounds from the rifles that trigger avalanches. At Stevens Pass, there were 180 detonations using 4,300 pounds of explosives.

As of April 6, according to the DOT, 526 inches of snow fell on Snoqualmie Pass, 153 percent of the five-year average. Over the past five years, the pass received an average annual snowfall of 342 inches.

And the winter may not yet be over. Snow is still falling in Washington, and snow fell this morning down to an elevation of 400 feet on the hills east of Seattle.

Monday night in the Cascades, 6 inches fell at Snoqualmie Pass and 3 at Stevens.

Susan Gilmore: 206-464-2054 or sgilmore@seattletimes.com