It won’t be long before the North Cascades Highway opens
Annual snow plowing of the North Cascades Highway has started, meaning that the northernmost road linking Eastern and Western Washington could be open within several weeks.
“It begins!” the Washington State Department of Transportation tweeted Tuesday, March 29.
Crews were working this week at Early Winters, heading west toward Washington Pass, WSDOT’s Lauren Loebsack wrote in a blog post.
“When our crews went out last week to begin the assessment, the weather was underwhelming with a low fog that scuttled plans for a drone flyover of some of the starting zones that cannot be seen from the highway,” Loebsack said.
“The avalanche crew determined the snow depth in the avalanche paths is normal to below average and the condition of the snow is soft, meaning the work can start soon,” Loebsack said.
Also known as Highway 20, the scenic two-lane road traverses Washington Pass and Rainy Pass over the Cascades peaks, connecting the Skagit Valley with the Methow Valley and giving Northwest Washington residents easier access to warmer temperatures near Winthrop and Twisp.
Highway 20 closes annually in the fall near Ross Dam because of avalanche danger and opens in spring, usually in late April or early May — depending on the snow depth.
WSDOT crews use heavy equipment, such as bulldozers, graders, and skip loaders, because the snow covering the road is often full of rock and debris that could damage snowblowers, WSDOT said.
Clearing efforts typically take four to six weeks.
Opening ceremonies usually are widely publicized and create something of a carnival atmosphere, as Western Washington residents look forward to the warm, dry weather of the east side and access to popular trails and campsites.
For many years, a Marblemount resident made cinnamon rolls and gave them to road crews on opening day.
But even when Highway 20 does open, drivers still will face delays near the mountain village of Newhalem, where heavy rains in November washed out the road at Milepost 113, reducing traffic to one lane with a signal. Repairs are planned but will take time to complete, WSDOT said.
This story was originally published March 30, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
