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CommentsMOSES LAKE Interstate 90 between Moses Lake and Ritzville in Eastern Washington was closed more than 19 hours Sunday because of blowing dust and poor visibility.
The Washington State Department of Transportation reopened the freeway just before 9 p.m. Sunday, when winds abated.
DOT had closed the freeway around 1:30 a.m. Sunday between milepost 179 near Moses Lake and milepost 220 at Ritzville.
No detour was available.
Emergency management officials in Adams and Grant counties were asking people to stay off the roadways, as blowing dust has caused numerous multiple-vehicle accidents on many local roads.
One accident, involving two semitrailers and three passenger vehicles, happened around 2 a.m. between Ritzville and Moses Lake, injuring eight people.
Washington State Patrol Sgt. Mike Rupert said Sunday afternoon that visibility in the worst of the dust storm was about 5 feet and when it lets up visibility is still only about 20 feet.
Its impassable, Rupert said.
The National Weather Service had issued a dust storm warning through 5 p.m. Sunday.
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