Highway 2 will reopen soon with single-lane traffic at stretch gouged by river

Highway 2 traffic through Washington is poised to resume next week, a group of the state’s leaders announced Friday during a press conference at Shoreline, Wash.

A section of the east-west highway between Monroe and Leavenworth closed after the Wenatchee River washed out the road Tuesday, Dec. 16. The river unexpectedly flooded after an atmospheric river wreaked havoc on Washington in early December.

Since the closure of the major highway, along with others across the state, drivers have been left in a bind having to find alternate routes. Now, the long process of reopening and repairing the closed roads is beginning. WSDOT has opened more than 90 roads that were damaged, according to Washington State Secretary of Transportation Julie Meredith.

Meredith joined Gov. Bob Ferguson in providing Friday’s update.

Highway 2 between Coal’s Corner and Stevens Pass will have a limited opening next week. Beginning Monday, Dec. 29, a pilot car will guide vehicles through a single lane in alternating directions from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. for at least a month.

“Every decision out department makes — whether to reopen a road or not, is grounded in safety for the public first,” Meredith said. “We know these closures can be frustrating, especially between the holiday and ski season, but reopening a road fully requires that we access it, for safety and not take a risk as we open it up for the public.”

Meredith urges drivers following the pilot car to adjust speeds and following distance, expect delays, and to plan for extra travel time. She also reminds drivers to prepare for incoming winter weather, such as avalanches, rain and snow, which may force another Highway 2 closure.

Drivers should continue to primarily use Interstate 90 or US Highway 12 for east-west travel until Highway 2 repairs are completed in the spring or summer.

The mayors of affected towns on opposite sides of the highway have been struggling.

“As Christmas town USA, I don’t have to say how devastating it’s been,” Leavenworth Mayor Carl Florea said. “What I do appreciate is taking [the road closure] as the emergency it is and throwing all the resources you can at it.”

Ferguson proposed a $2.1 billion transportation investment Dec. 19 to fix bridges that are in poor condition and protect them from weather damage, as seen in Skykomish.

“While this was an unprecedented event, we look forward to addressing the preservation that the state needs in the future,” Meredith said.

Ferguson said he views this disaster as an opportunity to grow, help and learn from Washington communities — one step at a time.

“In any experience like this, I think it’s important to go back and look at the experience [and ask] where are the things we can do differently based on what’s happened.” Gov. Ferguson said. “Right now, we are focusing on what we need to focus on, one thing at a time.”