Public Invited to Discuss I90 congestion at Open House

Interstate 90 at Harvard Road in Liberty Lake.

The Washington State Department of Transportation is starting an  Interstate 90/Four Lakes to Idaho Operational Study and wants to tell you about it. So you are invited to an informational open house Tuesday, Dec. 13.

I-90 in the Spokane area is experiencing increased congestion, primarily during peak commute hours, although congestion outside of peak periods is also on the rise. This congestion increases the possibility of collisions occurring on the freeway. 

Staff from the WSDOT will be on hand to listen to public feedback on improving safety and operations of the freeway and answer questions about the study. There will not be a formal presentation, and the public is free to stop in anytime during the open house from 5-8 p.m. in the North Central High School cafeteria at 1600 N. Howard Street.

This study will emphasize low-cost strategies to efficiently move traffic on the existing system while improving safety. It will examine collision history and operational performance in close detail and make recommendations for project strategies.

I90 Still Closed at Vantage Due to Brush Fire

The Seattle Times is reporting this morning that Interstate 90 remains closed in both directions near George, WA due to a 700-acre brush fire.

Kyle Foreman, an information officer for the Grant County Sheriff’s Department, said firefighters are working on I-90 to contain the fire and conditions are extremely dusty with little visibility, making the freeway unsafe for drivers.

It’s unknown when I90 will re-open. It's closed from the east end of the Vantage bridge, milepost 138. to milepost to 155. Drivers are being detoured around the closed area on Adams Road.

Sunday's closure of Interstate 90 at Stateline, ID was a rare event, but how rare is it to have trucks carrying hazardous materials travel through our area on the freeway? Not rare at all, according to KHQ News. In fact, there are hundreds every day. How big of a risk does this pose for our area? And how are these trucks regulated? KHQ has the answer in the video below.

Spokane, North Idaho News