Traffic to wait for I-90 rock blasting today

Rock blasting today will temporarily close two sections of Interstate 90 near Vantage and at Snoqualmie Pass, state officials said. The work involves two separate projects. The first detonations will close lanes in both directions for about 20 minutes at 2 p.m. between Vantage and the Kittitas interchange just east of Ellensburg. Rock is being collected from along the freeway to be used to repair flood damage adjacent to the freeway along the Yakima River near Ellensburg. The Yakima River went above flood stage last month, undermining an area adjacent to the travel lanes. Blasting is planned for 7:30 p.m. just east of Hyak and Snoqualmie Pass where a major construction project is underway to expand the freeway from four to six lanes. The freeway will be closed there for about an hour. Delays of 90 minutes are expected. Blasting is occurring there at least once a week through the summer. Evening travelers over the pass should check ahead to find out of blasting on the pass will cause them delays. For more information, go to the Washington Department of Transportation.