WSDOT sets North Cascades Highway opening two weeks earlier than expected
Emergency repairs for winter storm damage on the North Cascades Highway are expected to finish two weeks early, the Washington State Department of Transportation said late Monday afternoon.
Independence Day had been set as a target opening date, but officials now plan to open the northernmost connection between eastern and western Washington on Friday, June 19, “provided the weather cooperates and no unexpected obstacles arise,” WSDOT said in an emailed statement.
“Crews began repaving damaged sections of SR 20 on Friday, June 5, and expect to finish paving work this week if the weather is dry. Some of the remaining work, including lane striping, also requires conditions that are dry and warm enough,” WSDOT said.
Crews have been working seven days a week to repair two sections of Highway 20 across the Cascades crest in southeastern Whatcom County
Highway 20, the closest road over the Cascades Mountains for residents of Bellingham and Whatcom County, closes over the mountain pass every fall or winter because of avalanche danger. It opens again in April or May, depending on snowfall and road conditions, according to previous Bellingham Herald reporting.
A series of severe winter storms damaged a six-mile stretch of the scenic two-lane road from the Canyon Creek Trailhead to Granite Creek, between mileposts 142 and 148.
Damage from last season was far more extensive than in previous winters, WSDOT said. It included:
- Three places where the embankment supporting the roadway had to be rebuilt.
- More than 1,000 feet of lane that was undermined or collapsed.
- Approximately 2 miles of damaged or collapsed asphalt shoulder.
- Approximately 3 miles of damaged ditch.
- More than 1,000 feet of damaged guardrail and concrete barriers.
- About 15 damaged or buried culverts.
