Meeting set on avalanche proposal

The Washington State Department of Transportation is considering a change to the I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East Project and will host informal public hearings to educate the public about the proposal and seek their input.

October 15, 2012 3:22 pm

The Washington State Department of Transportation is considering a change to the I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East Project and will host informal public hearings to educate the public about the proposal and seek their input.

One objective is reducing road closures due to avalanches. Originally, WSDOT was going to accomplish this objective by replacing the existing snowshed with a new, larger snowshed. WSDOT is now considering replacing the existing snowshed with two avalanche bridges instead.

WSDOT recently released a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement that evaluates the proposed change, and will presenting the findings at public hearings in Bellevue, Snoqualmie Pass and Ellensburg.

The Bellevue meeting will be from 4-7 p.m. Oct. 23 at Lewis Creek Visitors Center, 5808 Lakemont Blvd. SE.

Those unable to attend the meetings can visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I90/SnoqualmiePassEast/HyaktoKeechelusDam/ to view the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement and submit comments. The public comment period ends on Nov. 19, 2012.