SNOQUALMIE, Wash. — Snow and ice complicated cross-state travel on Interstate 90 Tuesday, as eastbound traffic was shut down in two places because of spinouts.
The Washington State Patrol closed a stretch of eastbound I-90 near Ellensburg beginning in the afternoon following crashes caused by freezing rain.
By early evening, state troopers also closed eastbound I-90 to traffic at North Bend in order to clear spinouts near Snoqualmie Pass.
Westbound traffic remained open, but drivers without all-wheel drive were required to put chains on their wheels.
Eastbound I-90 reopened at about 10:30 p.m.
Drivers are advised to use traction tires on both directions of the roadway.
On Tuesday morning, Snoqualmie Pass first saw freezing rain, which transitioned to several inches of snow as the day went on.
The trouble came a day before large crowds were expected on eastbound I-90 for Thanksgiving travel.
Washington Department of Transportation officials said they brought in extra plow crews because of the weather and the holiday traffic, but when snow falls at an inch per hour, it is difficult to keep up.
The weather was expected to improve by Wednesday, when the heaviest eastbound traffic is projected on I-90 between 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
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