Repair work begins on Mount Baker Highway east of Glacier

Skiers and snowboarders may experience minor delays on their trips to and from Mt. Baker Ski Area for the next several weeks as crews make emergency repairs on Mount Baker Highway about six miles east of Glacier.

The ski area opened for the season Thursday, Nov. 19.

The road work started Friday morning, Nov. 20, according to a news release from the Washington State Department of Transportation. The work could take several weeks, depending on the weather.

Crews will work during the day, seven days a week, possibly including Thanksgiving Day, until the project is done.

The Nooksack River ate away at its bank and undermined the highway, exposing guardrail posts along the eastbound lane. As a result, the DOT on Tuesday reduced the highway to one lane, about halfway between mileposts 39 and 40, as a precaution.

Crews will use the closed lane for the project. That means drivers can expect occasional minor delays as crews move equipment or bring in materials for the repair, which is expected to cost more than $500,000.

A signal is controlling traffic during the project, which will accommodate eastbound traffic going to the ski area by allowing for longer green lights before 8:30 a.m.

After 3:30 p.m. there will be longer green lights for traffic leaving the ski area.

This story was originally published November 20, 2015 at 7:00 AM with the headline "Repair work begins on Mount Baker Highway east of Glacier."