I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East Project

1. I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East Project Tanya Lamb Urban Geography, GEOG 481 • Leading the Project • Washington Department of Transportation(WSDOT) • Federal Highway Administration(FHA) • National Environmental Policy (NEPA) • State Environmental Policy Act(SEPA) • US Forest Service (USFS) • US Bureau of Reclamation(USBOR) Pros and Cons Traffic Safety and Capacity (positive) Increased capacity, slope stabilization, reduce the danger. Straightening the highway, lower the danger of accidents, building wildlife crossing structures, reduce collisions (negative) temporary adverse effects Social Values (positive) benefits the social environment reducing driver frustration, increasing access to recreation areas. Increasing wildlife habitat connections (negative) temporary social impacts = traffic delays, noise impacts. Only permanent impact is placement of snowshed Economic Values positive) greater predictability, fewer delays, and freight transport. reduce the economic costs of traffic delays, reduced costs of pavement repair, jobs in Kittitas and King County (negative) some temporary effects economically due to traffic delays Natural Environment (positive) greater ability for wildlife to safely cross the highway, more natural stream channel movement and improved fish passage by replacing narrow bridges and culverts, habitat connections, improve groundwater flow, water quality would improve, treat stormwater runoff (negative) some temporary impacts to the natural environment, disturbed vegetation. Permanent impact, placement of new highway fill, loss of terrestrial riparian and aquatic habitat including some project area forest wetlands, streams, and deep water areas of Keechelus Lake. Shift impacts from higher to lower-quality wetlands. • Description • 15-mile stretch • Hyak (MP 55.1) to Easton (MP 70.3) • 2010 scheduled to begin construction and last approximately 13-20 years depending on funding • Proposal • Expand the highway from 2 to 3 lanes to accommodate traffic for next 25 years • Aging highway replaced • Smoother ride • Less maintenance • Straighten curves • New Chain-up areas • New bridges for truck travel and safety • Snowshed to cover all 6 lanes to increase avalanche safety and road closures • Stabilize slopes • Wildlife passage structures in 14 major wildlife crossing areas Image of a bear from a mounted wildlife monitoring camera near Snoqualmie Pass • Possible Effected Environment • Geology and Soils • Air Quality • Water Resources • Wetland and other jurisdictional waters • Fish and Aquatic Species and Habitats • Terrestrial Species • Transportation • Noise • Historic, Cultural and Archaeological Resources • Recreation Resources • Land Use • Visual Quality • Social and Economic Resources • Hazardous material and waste • Energy • Cumulative Effects • Additional environmental considerations • Uniqueness • Many environmental and design challenges • Area receives high levels of rain and snow • Special designs for stormwater runoff and snow storage management • Keechelus Lake • Steep cliffs • Rockfall • Avalanches • Conservation lands • Broad range of habitats • Diversity of plants • Wildlife separated by highway Design Visualizations of two of the proposed Alternatives allowing greater wildlife passage • Importance • I-90 is a critical Link • Puget Sound’s large population and business centers • Eastern Washington’s farmlands, diverse industries, and extensive recreational areas • Movement of freight and people and business is essential to quality of life and economic strength New Snowshed design to accommodate avalanches