It’s taken four years, more than 84,000 dump-truck loads of material, 163 full closures for rock blasting and enough concrete to fill over 470,000 wheelbarrows to reach a major milestone on the Interstate 90 Snoqualmie Pass East – Hyak to Keechelus Dam project. In just a couple of weeks, the Washington State Department of Transportation will open more than two miles of a new-six lane highway to traffic, but there is still work to be done in the meantime. During a six-day lane closure starting Oct. 14, crews will pave the transitions between the new and old eastbound and westbound lanes.
The media is invited to see the new westbound lanes before they open to traffic, talk with project engineers about the six-day lane closure, see the progress made on the project this year and learn what more needs to be done in the coming years. Maintenance supervisors will provide a sneak peek into winter preparations at the pass.
When: 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012
Where: Behind the WSDOT Hyak maintenance facility on Snoqualmie Pass. Media will be shuttled to the construction area to see a section of the new westbound lanes. Directions below.
Available for interviews:
- Don Whitehouse, WSDOT regional administrator
- Brian White, WSDOT assistant regional administrator for I-90 construction
- Terry Kukes, WSDOT maintenance superintendent
- Harry Nelson, WSDOT assistant maintenance superintendent
Visuals:
- Be the first to get a close-up look at the newly completed westbound section of the six-lane highway before it opens to traffic.
- See construction crews in action using heavy equipment, moving material and working on the new lanes.
- Get footage and photos of the areas where the old lanes will transition into the new lanes.
- Get a sneak peek as crews prepare snow plows and blowers for winter.
Safety information: Please wear boots and warm clothing. Hard hats, vests and eye protection will be provided.
Directions from westbound I-90:
- Take exit 54 toward Hyak/Gold Creek
- Turn left under I-90 onto Lake Mardee Road
- Continue on SR 906
- Turn left at the stop sign
- Go about 0.3 miles to WSDOT Hyak Maintenance Facility
- Please follow signs and staff directing you to the back of the facility to park
Directions from eastbound I-90:
- Take exit 54 toward Hyak/Gold Creek
- Turn right onto State Route 906
- Go straight through intersection to WSDOT Hyak Maintenance Facility
- Please follow signs and staff directing you to the back of the facility to park
Hyperlinks within the news release:
