Interstate 82 reopens south of Kennewick. Traffic was backed up for miles

Icy highways have caused a series of crashes south of Kennewick forcing Interstate 82 to close for hours Monday morning.

The eastbound lanes eight miles south of Kennewick to the Oregon state line reopened about 10:30 a.m., according to the state Department of Transportation.

Traffic headed south was being diverted at the Coffin Road exit.

At least 15 vehicles collided before 7 a.m., causing traffic to back up for miles, according to Trooper Chris Thorson with the Washington State Patrol.

He said freezing fog along 20 to 30 miles of the interstate was to blame.

That included the I-82 and I-182 interchange in Richland, where more wrecks were reported.

The National Weather Service said patches of dense fog that was freezing on roadways thinned out by late morning. Temperatures then were expected to rise above freezing by the afternoon.

The temperature at 8 a.m. Monday morning near the Oregon state line was 21 degrees. In the Tri-Cities it was 25.

Check back for updates.

This story was originally published December 16, 2019 at 7:49 AM.