Tax dollars at work on I-90

During an election year, the average voter will hear a lot about the good, bad and ugly of taxes -- especially increases -- but here's at least one example of a gas tax hike being put to good use.

A final environmental impact statement has been issued and work on the first phase of an upgrade of heavily traveled Interstate 90 from Hyak, near the summit of Snoqualmie Pass, east to Easton is scheduled to begin next year.

The initial phase, the five-mile section from Hyak to near Keechelus Dam, is the only portion funded in a project that could eventually cost as much as $1.3 billion. A total of $545 million is set aside from the recent 9.5-cent increase in the state gas tax for that initial work, which could take up to six years.

Completing the remaining 10 miles -- depending on funding -- may take another 15 years.

The upgrade is long overdue and badly needed for the heavily traveled cross-state route. An average of 27,000 vehicles cross the pass each day, and as the motoring public was recently reminded on Labor Day weekend, on holidays the number jumps to about 58,000 and traffic slows to a crawl.

But this upgrade is about much more than a holiday weekend issue. In addition, the project will expand the freeway to six lanes, straighten curves, replace the existing concrete pavement, lengthen bridges and add wildlife overpasses to reduce traffic collisions with wildlife. Also proposed is a long snowshed that would cover both directions of travel in the area of the existing snowshed that protects only the westbound lanes.

Environmental groups have also signed off on the proposal.

The project will also reduce rockfall and avalanche hazards that are not only dangerous themselves but can also cause severe economic disruption when the pass is closed and commercial vehicles can't get through.

Ironically, there will be delays as construction moves forward, but in this case that's the price of progress.

In reality, 9.5 cents in state tax on a gallon of gas that in the past year has sold for as high as $4.36 per gallon isn't all that much in the total scheme of pricing. But the chunk of money it produces that will be spent for the I-90 upgrade is money well spent and will be a solid return on investment.

That highway has served the people of this state very well on both sides of the Cascades since the first motorized car traveled the original dirt road in 1905. We owe it this upgrade, which will make it an even better and more efficient component of our quality of life.

* Members of the Yakima Herald-Republic editorial board are Michael Shepard, Sarah Jenkins, Bill Lee and Karen Troianello.