SNOQUALMIE PASS — Two mountain passes were set to reopen Sunday after almost four days being closed due to heavy snowfall and avalanche risk.
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) announced Sunday afternoon Blewett Pass on U.S. 97 and Snoqualmie Pass on Interstate 90 would reopen at 5 p.m.
Freight will be the first vehicles to cross, and general or recreational travelers are asked to delay their drives.
Snoqualmie Pass has a 45 mph limit at the summit and traction tires are advised. Crews cleared two narrow lanes across most of I-90, which usually has five eastbound lanes and three westbound lanes.
Chain-up areas, ramps and shoulders were mostly unusable and access to rest areas was limited, according to WSDOT.
Work to clear Stevens Pass on U.S. 2 was ongoing, and it was not expected to reopen until Wednesday. East of Stevens Pass has been cleared of avalanche concerns and snow, but ice 4-inches thick remains to be removed.
Snow slides 60-70 feet high and 100-200 feet wide as well as avalanche concerns have held up work on the west side of the pass.
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