I-90 slowdowns expected over Snoqualmie Pass as road construction begins

Expect slowdowns on Interstate 90 as crews replace several miles of deteriorating concrete panels in the right lane of I-90 between Easton and Bullfrog Road, about 20 miles east of the Snoqualmie Summit.

The 10-mile work, (www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/i90/lkeastontobullfrogwb) is part of an $18.4 million Recovery Act-funded project.

The state waited until heavy summer travel volumes subsided to help reduce delays and congestion for travelers on the highway, the state's main east-west crossing. The work and lane closures are still expected to add an up to an hour to drivers' commute times across Snoqualmie Pass.

The following restrictions will be in place 24 hours a day on I-90 from Sept. 8 to early November, between Easton (milepost 69) and Bullfrog Road (milepost 79):

• Eastbound traffic will be restricted to one lane starting Sept. 8.

Eastbound and westbound traffic will be restricted to one lane starting Sept. 13.

• Westbound traffic will be rerouted to the eastbound side of the road as early as Sept. 16.

• On weekends, three lanes will be open: Two lanes eastbound Friday through Sunday morning; and two lanes westbound Sunday morning through early Monday morning.

"Our crews are working with very tight timelines to deliver this critical preservation project," said Washington Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond in a news release. "We purposely waited to do these closures after the Labor Day weekend when there are fewer travelers on the pass. Now it's a race against the weather and winter storms."

Drivers can sign up to receive e-mail updates at www.wsdot.wa.gov/emailupdates as conditions change on I-90 between Snoqualmie Summit and Ellensburg.