King County to Plow Two-Thirds Less Roads this Winter, Only Four in Snoqualmie Valley

According to King County Transportation,  “This winter will bring new challenges for transportation in King County. In a countywide snow and ice event this winter, two-thirds fewer roads will be plowed than in past seasons. The likelihood that you could be snowbound or disconnected from the road network is greater this year than in years past.”

County road crews respond and treat unincorporated King County roads impacted by snow, ice, flood and wind events, including many in the Snoqualmie Valley, plowing and sanding all critical snow routes.

But that is changing this year. Declining property values have caused a dramatic reduction in tax revenue usually earmarked for roads.  So with fewer resources, compounded by the rising cost of maintaining roads, King County has reduced road service levels in unincorporated county areas – and much of the Snoqualmie Valley lies in unincorporated King County.

What does it mean?  Basically, that compared to just a few years ago when 30% of county-managed roads were maintained in big snow, ice, flood events, this year the county can only get to 10% of the road network.

What Snoqualmie Valley (Unincorporated) Roads will continue to be maintained this winter:

  • Preston-Fall City Roads from I-90 to SR 202
  • SE North Bend Way from I-90 to North Bend city limits
  • 436th Ave SE/Cedar Falls Way from North Bend city limits up thru Wilderness Rim area
  • Portion of Uplands Way SE

These roads are in addition to the main freeway arterials maintained during inclement weather and considered higher traveled roads leading to freeways and populated neighborhoods.  Roads inside city limits are maintained by city road crews.

For more information visit the King County Transportation website page.

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  • I notice that the Mount Si Road and Edgewick Road in North Bend are not on this list. How are we supposed to get our kids to school? I do not buy the excuse from the county that this dramatic cut in road services is due to “declining property values.” The value of my home did go down – but my local property taxes did not go down – they went up! Also property values are still higher now than they were 20 years ago (and local property taxes have more than doubled since then). The county was able to plow the roads back then even with half the revenue they have now. Instead, I think this is one more example of unincorporated areas of King County seeing cuts in services in order to transfer funding to a never ending stream of Seattle based consultants and multi-billion dollar boondoggles like the Seattle Tunnel.
    Regards,
    David Spring
    Parent, North Bend

    1. Yep I am out on the North Fork Road and I am wondering the same thing. I also get that home values have depreciated a bit, but there is also a lot of new construction being built and that bring in tax revenue.

  • stock up on supplies.. maintain that generator… get the stoves and furnaces serviced..studded tires again.. and stock up on homework supplies.. contact teachers for digital home work for students… it is going to be a different winter..if we have a snow event.. living in the mountains has it’s advantages and opportunities.. also it’s weather challenges.. it isn’t going to change.. we will have to it seems..

  • We may not have to worry about it, who knows what the weather will be, certainly not the weatherman! If it snows, people can actually stay home for a day or two!

  • First of all you don’t “live in the mountains” I was born and raised in the Valley as were my parents and grandparents. They never plowed enough as it was so buy a four wheel drive..Or….learn how to drive in the snow…Also you could walk, we did as kids..I would be more concerned about the flooding that I have experienced first hand a few times…GEESH!

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