The city of Snoqualmie is exploring of new ways of addressing the traffic problems caused by the interchange between I-90 and State Route 18 to help make some changes before the project funding becomes available in 2023.
According to WSDOT, the interchange has become one of the busiest in Washington with local and cross-state travelers and freight trucks stuck during peak traffic periods and on busy weekends.
As part of the $16 billion Connecting Washington transportation package, the Washington State Legislature approved $150 million to improve the I-90 and S.R. 18 interchange. However that money is slated to become available in July of 2023, with actual changes projected to be done by 2028.
Snoqualmie Mayor Matt Larson thinks that’s too far out to address a problem that is currently affecting not only Valley citizens, but drivers from all over the state that pass through. With the support of local representatives, the port of Seattle, and some alternative design options, Snoqualmie may be able to make some changes sooner than expected.
“Mark (Mullet, 5th District Senator) and Jay (Rodne, 5th District Representative) and Paul (Graves, 5th District Representative) are all now very strongly saying this is their number-one priority in the district,” he said.
While the interchange has been looked at as an issue for Snoqualmie, it has had negative effects on traffic coming from outside of the city. Snoqualmie worked with North Bend, Issaquah, and Covington mayors to write a letter to the state Senate describing the impacts.
Stephanie Bowman, a Port of Seattle commissioner, said approximately 17 percent of the traffic at that intersection can be trucks from the port and wants to help the effort to push up the timeline on project funding.
“Any time you can get some of those bigger guns to add to that voice it’s nothing but a good thing,” Larson said. “In this type of project the biggest help is an advocate, a lobbying voice.”
The city has been exploring alternative styles of highway interchange to help make the case that reasonable changes can be made soon. Larson said they may be able to use a portion of the 2023 budgeted funds, if a creative solution can be found sooner.
“The only way we think we might have a chance to move some of those dollars up is presenting a more innovative way to do it,” he said. “If we approach them with a more creative solution, we can look at moving the weigh station or starting the design.”
One of the interchange styles Larson said the city has looked at is the diverging diamond, which is currently being used at 86 locations around the country. While the city is currently still exploring options, the diverging diamond was just as an example of just one of the innovative designs being considered. For more on the diverging diamond interchange style, visit divergingdiamond.com.
For more information on the I-90 and S.R. 18 improvement project, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/i90/sr18icimprove.
