Over the years several routes have crossed Snoqualmie Pass. Trails gave way to roads and roads were replaced with freeways but, in places, the old still remains. Between the Denny Creek exit and the Pass an old road runs up the valley just as it has for many years. Take a few minutes to slow down and enjoy what used to be the latest thing.
As more people moved to the area, travel across the pass increased, and so did demand for increased access. When it was built the cross pass highway was often closed for half the year due to heavy snowfall at the pass. But plowing began to shorten the closed period and during the winter of 1931-32 the pass stayed open the full winter for the first time. During the 30s the Seattle Park Board got a permit from the Forest Service to operate a ski hill at the summit as a municipal park, competing with the Snoqualmie Ski Bowl at Hyak operated by The Milwaukee Railroad.
In 1934 the roadway across the pass, which had been an oiled surface road, was paved across the summit. Then, in 1938, the Traveler's Rest Area was built and the highway was renamed US Route 10. Following WWII snowsheds were added. The name of the highway changed again to I-90 and was widened to four lanes during the 50s and 60s. Finally in 1981 the highway was split west of the pass with the new west bound lanes built above the ground to avoid avalanches and minimize impact to the environment.
Now the 15-mile portion east of the pass from Hyak to Easton is being rebuilt, construction again changing the route of travel across Snoqualmie Pass. Blasting of rock periodically stops traffic and new bridges are being built next to the old roads. Will that be it when they finish? Will the road building finally be done? If history is any guide, this is just the next latest thing.
GCRM Replace log/container as needed - see GCRM.gocacher.com for more info.