Didn't see the kids this Sunday. . . here's why

Rockslide closes I-90 near Snoqualmie in Wash. state

05:29 PM PST on Sunday, November 6, 2005

By JIM KLOCKOW, NWCN Staff



The rockslide 4 miles east of Snoqualmie Pass on Interstate 90 happened Sunday morning, but threatened to close the highway in both directions because more rocks could come down.

HYAK, Wash. – A rockslide forced the complete closure of Interstate 90 over Snoqualmie Pass Sunday. A state transportation official said the westbound lanes could be closed for weeks.

The eastbound lanes were initially closed at North Bend, but the closure was moved to Snoqualmie Summit Sunday afternoon.

Boulders the size of refrigerators rained down on the highway at milepost 58 after 3:15 a.m. Sunday. No one was injured and the rocks themselves would not take long to clear, according to state transportation officials. But the slide apparently exposed a continuing threat that state officials decided they needed to act on.

“There’s a lot of material that looks like it could come down any minute now,” said WSDOT communications manager Mike Westbay.

Westbay said the eastbound lanes would be closed into Monday or longer until officials could set up a rockfall fence. At that point, just one lane would be open.

The westbound lanes will be closed until all the material that state geologists say is poised to fall is brought down by. Westbay said that could take weeks.

"Our goal is to have it open by Thanksgiving weekend," Westbay said.

In the meantime, drivers trying to get over the pass have just a few options, none of them convenient. They can wait out the closure in Cle Elem, head north to Route 20 over Stevens Pass or take State Route 12 over White Pass.

Traction tires were required across Stevens Pass Sunday, but there are no restrictions over White Pass.

To get the job done, the state will seek to enter into an emergency contract, according to WSDOT Assistant Regional Administrator Casey McGill, who said the job may cost about $1 million.



Rocks were the size of refrigerators fell from the side of the mountain.

The closure of the Westbound lanes of the state’s main east-west path through the Cascades is going to hurt, McGill said.

“It’s going to be an ugly situation for travelers in the state of Washington,” he said, “It’s going to have a huge economic impact on the state.”

McGill said the area was not one that had been identiified as being in immediate danger of failing, but was scheduled for attention and stabilization this coming spring.

The closure had an immediate affect at Snoqualmie Pass, where the Pancake House was closed because employees were not able to get to work.

About 28,000 motorists cross the pass on an average weekday, DOT spokeswoman Jaimie Holter said. On Sunday, many people were expected to be returning from Washington State University for the school's Dad's Weekend event.

Sunday’s slide came just two months after a similar slide killed three women in an area not far away.