Local traffic smooth
Thu., Jan. 8, 2009
Traffic around Spokane and Coeur d’Alene is moving along smoothly on metro streets as well as Interstate 90, police say.
Slick conditions have been reported on Day Mount Spokane Road and Sillman as well as Mount Spokane Park Drive and Holcomb.
The urban flooding in streets has not been as bad as originally predicted, officials said.
“I’ve come across some puddles, but nothing extreme,” said Spokane Police Officer Teresa Fuller.
The worst problems involving vehicle travel are the mountain passes. Snoqualmie, Stevens, Blewett and White passes are all closed due to mudslides or avalanche danger.
Nearly 40,000 motorists cross Washington’s mountain passes each day, most travel on I-90, according to the Washington Department of Transportation. Approximately 7,000 trucks typically cross on the mountain passes each day.
Also, Amtrak Cascades, which come from the Seattle area, have cancelled service today, the transportation department said.
Regionally, State Route 27 at Pine Creek is down to one lane because of flooding. Other than that, the area is in pretty good shape, said Washington State Patrol Trooper Mark Baker.
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