Travel over the mountains could lead to holiday gridlock

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Hoping to avoid holiday traffic and long lines at Sea-Tac Airport, Mary Stephenson boarded the Airporter Shuttle on Tuesday on the first leg of a trip to London and points beyond.

"That's why we're leaving today. To beat the crowds," said Stephenson, a member of the Yakima Symphony Chorus, which will perform in Prague and Vienna.

The same held for Janice Coburn of Selah, who had a more modest destination: Thanksgiving with family in Algona, Wash., near Auburn.

It's a trip Coburn has made before in snow and ice, so she was happy Tuesday with the relatively benevolent forecast. There's currently rain mixed with snow predicted over the next several days for Snoqualmie, White and Satus passes.

Afternoon Snoqualmie Pass temperatures today -- officially the busiest travel day of the year in Washington -- are expected to be near 40 degrees with calm winds. Expect rain tonight.

Relatively good weather could help reduce drivers' stress because the number of motorists on the roads is bound to raise it.

"Thanksgiving remains the busiest holiday weekend of the year for Interstate 90 over Snoqualmie Pass and Interstate 5 south of Olympia through Lewis County," said Alice Finman, spokeswoman for the state Department of Transportation.

Drivers headed east on I-90 today between 3 and 4 p.m. can count on congestion and stop-and-go traffic. In that hour, more than 2,500 vehicles will be on the road between Cle Elum and North Bend, according to the state. An average Wednesday in November sees about 500 vehicles.

The other big traffic time will be Sunday on I-90's westbound lanes between 1 and 6 p.m.

Gas prices won't help ease the traffic headaches. Statewide, residents are paying $2.86 a gallon compared to $2.04 last year. In Yakima, this year's average is $2.89 compared to $1.93 a year ago.

*******

Other modes of transportation will be crowded, too. The Airporter Shuttle, which offers four daily trips between Yakima and Seattle, added four full-size coaches for the holidays in addition to its mini vans and regular vans.

"Our numbers are astronomical," said Warren Gay, manager of the Yakima operation of the Ferndale-based company. "As long as there are passengers, we'll keeping adding buses."

Seats are still available, but the company recommends passengers register with a credit card to guarantee a spot. The round-trip cost is $74, which includes a $3 fuel surcharge by the state.

Horizon Air's Jen Boyer reports "pretty full" flights out of Yakima, with total volume up slightly over last year.

*******

All the travel over Snoqualmie Pass is good news for the Cottage Cafe & Fireside Lounge in Cle Elum. Manager Bridget McBride said lots of travelers stop in for breakfast on Thanksgiving.

"We get a lot of people on their way to Grandma and Grandpa's," she said.

The restaurant stays open until 2 p.m. and offers a turkey meal that appeals to truckers a long way from home, McBride said.

Drivers who have overindulged in holiday spirits and don't stay off the road will be subject to special DUI patrols by local law enforcement.

Sgt. Ed McAvoy of the Washington State Patrol in Yakima said the Yakima County Traffic Safety Task Force, a joint effort, will be out enforcing DUI, speed and seat belt laws.

Extra troopers will be out up and down the Yakima Valley over the weekend, he said.

McAvoy said if bad weather hits and roads become icy, drivers should allow twice the normal distance between themselves and the vehicle ahead. That would be two car lengths for every 10 mph.

Marty Lentsch, a volunteer with Central Washington Mountain Rescue, has made many trips over Snoqualmie Pass in bad weather and once spent an hour and a half in the car with small children because of an 11-vehicle accident.

She said parents should bring one extra blanket for each child. "When the car gets cold, jackets don't cut it," Lentsch said.

Those sticking closer to Yakima on Thanksgiving Day can expect a 30 percent chance of rain in the afternoon, increasing to 50 percent at night. Temperatures will range from a high of 42 during the day to a low of 37 at night.

10 things to pack if you’re heading over the pass

AAA recommends making packing a winter driving kit in case you encounter snow and ice. At a minimum it should include these 10 items:

• Cell phone and charger for emergency calls
• Warning devices (flares, triangles or other visual alerts)
• First aid kit
• Flashlight with new batteries
• Nonperishable food and water
• Blankets and warm clothing including hat and gloves
• Jumper cables
• Abrasive material (sand or cat litter) or traction mats and a small shovel
• Ice/snow scraper for clearing car and windows
• Tire chains

For more information on winter driving, go to AAA.com and click on “Traffic Safety” to download a copy of “How To Go On Ice and Snow.”

* Leah Beth Ward can be reached at 509- 577-7626 or lward@yakimaherald.com.

• Classified Marketplace
  View All | Search | Place Ad
• 
• • Announcements
  • Public Notices
  • Legal Notices
  • Merchandise
  • Yard Sales
  • Animals
• Jobs
  www.yakjobs.com
• Homes
  www.yakhomes.com
• 
• 
  
• Autos
  www.yakwheels.com

• All Special Pubs Yakima Magazine Channels YakJobs.com YakWheels.com YakHomes.com Playdate Yakima Bride Yakima Wheels (Print) Home Buyer's Guide Baby Brag Book Graduates 2009 Summer in the Valley Prep Football 2009 Women in Business Holiday Gift Guide
• Advertisement