Six new lanes, one wildlife over-crossing, new bridges and culverts, and safety improvements are coming to a 2-mile stretch of Interstate 90 beginning this summer.

Local officials, business leaders and transportation advocates joined the Washington State Department of Transportation June 9 to break ground on the next major phase to widen I-90 from four to six lanes and improve reliability and safety for drivers east of Snoqualmie Pass.

“This project is a shining example of WSDOT’s future direction. It embraces our values, goals and strategies for a safe transportation system that improves mobility and supports economic growth,” said Cam Gilmour, deputy secretary of transportation.

This phase of the project builds a new six lane highway, stabilizes rock slopes, constructs new bridges and culverts, and builds a wildlife over-crossing, the first of its kind in the project corridor. Construction is scheduled to be complete in 2019.

The ground breaking signals increased construction-related delays on Snoqualmie Pass this summer. Drivers will experience minor, periodic delays caused by single-lane closures and rolling slowdowns through October.

The start of this 2-mile section is an extension of the $551 million project funded by the 2005 gas tax to improve 5 miles of I-90 from Hyak to Keechelus Dam, scheduled for completion in 2018. The Legislature allocated funding in the 2013 transportation budget to continue expanding I-90 to the Stampede Pass interchange.