Snohomish Times Newspaper: Roads Traffic Conditions

Published: Tuesday, May 14, 2013
SR 410 Chinook Pass reopens

Crews are gearing up to reopen Chinook Pass on Friday, May 17. It’s fairly safe to say drivers can make travel plans over State Route 410 this weekend.

Washington State Department of Transportation maintenance crews will reopen the east gate to Chinook Pass at Morse Creek, five miles east of the summit at 10 a.m. Friday.

Crews spent the past five weeks clearing snow approximately 20 feet deep along the roadway and shoulder. Crews typically clear between 15 to 25 feet of snow from the summit.

“Clearing efforts went pretty smooth and we didn’t run into any big challenges from the snowpack,” said John Stimberis, WSDOT avalanche specialist.

Chinook Pass closed for the season Nov. 12, 2012, from the intersection of SR 123 and SR 410 (three miles west of the summit) to Morse Creek (5.5 miles east of the summit). WSDOT typically closes Chinook every year in late November due to heavy snowfall, high avalanche risk and hazardous driving conditions.

Drivers should be aware the potential for winter driving conditions still exists and watch for loose rock and debris along the roadway. WSDOT crews routinely monitor highway conditions along this stretch.

Chinook Pass is one of the state’s highest mountain passes (elev. 5,430 feet), a part of the SR 410 National Scenic Byway and one of the access points into Mount Rainier National Park. Commercial vehicles are prohibited through Mt. Rainier National Park.

Cayuse Pass on SR 123 reopened May 3.

Hyperlinks within the new release:

Mount Rainier: www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/index.htmChinook Pass: www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/passes/chinook

Wednesday, May 08, 2013

Eastside TRailways Alliance Conference
Please join our newly launched Eastside Trailways Alliance an exciting afternoon of community building.

Sunday, May 05, 2013

Rock blasting closure
Monday’s rock blasting closure could keep Snoqualmie Pass closed for hours

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Spring storm on Snoqualmie Pass
The spring storm that dumped more than a foot of snow on Interstate 90 over Snoqualmie Pass yesterday, delays construction activities today and tonight.

Friday, April 05, 2013

Emergency closure of northbound I-5
Last night, WSDOT maintenance closed the right lane of northbound I-5 after engineers found several cracked concrete panels in need of immediate repair.

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Expect full closures of SR 522
Drivers on State Route 522 in Monroe should plan on delays or consider using an alternate route this week due to nightly closures of the roadway.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Full closure of southbound SR 529 Snohomish River Bridge
Drivers headed to Everett on southbound State Route 529 will need to use an alternate route on Thursday, March 21.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Toll rate increase on SR 520 Bridge
State Transportation Commission proposes toll rate increase on SR 520 Bridge

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

North Cascades Highway clearing to begin March 25
On Tuesday, Washington State Department of Transportation avalanche-control specialists Mike Stanford and Harlan Sheppard ventured up and over the North Cascades on snowmobiles from the Early Winters information center to Rainy Pass.

Wednesday, March 06, 2013

SR 529 Ebey Slough Bridge closed this weekend
Marysville drivers can say goodbye to concrete barrier and hello to new lanes on the State Route 529 Ebey Slough Bridge after a closure this weekend.

Monday, March 04, 2013

Amtrak Cascades one step closer
WSDOT expects construction to begin in 2015 and open the new route to service in 2017.

SNOHOMISH TIMES TRAFFIC REPORT

Traffic Conditions Around Snohomish and North Metro Area