I-90 is dangerous (Seattle, Ellensburg, Issaquah: 2013, construction, tax rates)

[Botev1912]

I drove from Seattle to Tri-Cities and I-90 is in horrible condition both directions. After you pass Issaquah, the road becomes very bumpy all the way until Ellensburg except very few newer sections. The pavement is so rough, it was constantly moving my car all over the road (I crossed other lanes unintentionally). There were sections for MILES, where there were no markings at all including really deep potholes. The other drivers had no idea how to drive either because they didn't know where the lanes and the shoulders are supposed to be. I-5 in King County feels like a brand new road compared to I-90 (and it is in really bad condition!). It was a nightmare to drive on I-90. I am lucky my car and I are intact. This is a freeway with 70 mph speed limit not some dirt road. I can't believe how a major freeway in the richest country in the world can be in this horrid condition. I have never seen a freeway this bad anywhere even in third world countries. I e-mailed WSDOT for this. Seriously, they NEED to visit Western Europe and Japan to learn how to maintain roads. You will never see a freeway like this anywhere in the first world.

Does anyone else have similar observations?

[Inkpoe]

Yea... I remember leaving Snoqualmie Pass and encountered that a lot over the years. Oh, it's a lot worse at night; that's when you really don't know where you should be and if its snowing... you're basically flying blind. Honestly, I feel a lot safer driving in Canada than i90 in the winter.

[Lamplight]

It's been over a year and a half since I drove there, but I don't remember it being especially bad. Now I-90 through Minnesota is really, really horrible.

[sean98125]

"Seriously, they NEED to visit Western Europe and Japan to learn how to maintain roads."

Which means, they NEED to visit Western Europe and Japan to learn that higher tax rates go hand in hand with better public infrastructure.

[Botev1912]

It's true gas taxes are ridiculously low, but the freeways in Oregon that has the same climate and taxes are a lot better and smoother.

[downnice]

I agree 100%

Another awful road is 99 in California UGH

[Pretzelogik]

Originally Posted by sean98125

"Seriously, they NEED to visit Western Europe and Japan to learn how to maintain roads."

Which means, they NEED to visit Western Europe and Japan to learn that higher tax rates go hand in hand with better public infrastructure.

Except whenever they raise them in DC they get squandered in new useless lobby inspired cinderella schemes.

[509]

Eastern Washington's gas tax dollars were shifted five years ago to support the mega highway projects in the Seattle area. Once those get completed in a decade or so....I am sure that there will be a shift to I-90 in eastern Washington.

The other solution that the state has discussed is making the cross-Cascade passes toll roads and fund improvements that way.

A $20 toll could be used to fix all the cross-Cascade roads.

When the gas tax money was shifted from eastern Washington to western Washington comments were made that hardly anybody from western Washington drives east of the Cascades. So this would get us in eastern Washington to pay our fair share for being able to visit Puget Sound.

[Botev1912]

I would pay a toll if the road is perfect. In New Jersey most of the freeways are tolled and the roads are still terrible which doesn't make any sense because they steal drivers' money.

[cjg5]

I travel I-90 frequently outside of the winter months and never thought it was too bad except for the construction areas just east of the pass summit. Last time I traveled it was back in October, first trip of 2013 planned for mid April. If it is really all that bad it must have happened over the last few months.