Crews Get Back To Grind On Interstate 90 Bumps

Valley motorists commuting downtown via Interstate 90 have about another month of delays ahead.

Fear of cold weather temporarily halted the grinding and repaving project last October. It was scheduled to be done by November.

Crews began grinding out the freeway’s grooves again last month, reducing the three lanes to two during the day and one at night.

Work should be completed in about four weeks, said Al Gilson, spokesman for the Washington Department of Transportation.

Later this summer, workers will start grinding off the ruts in I-90 going the other direction from the Valley.

Bids open in early July for a project to grind the ruts in I-90 between Pines Road and the Idaho state line, Gilson said.

The project, expected to cost between $1.75 million and $2.5 million, is scheduled to be completed by the fall, he said.

Lanes would likely be reduced to two during the day and one at night, Gilson said.

Heavy traffic and studded tires are to blame for the inch-deep grooves.