North Cascades Highway Reopens For The Season

WASHINGTON — Despite a challenging spring in the mountains, state transportation crews successfully reopened the North Cascades Highway Tuesday, just a few weeks after snow removal work began.

The annual project got started a little earlier this year, with snow-clearing efforts on State Route 20 getting underway on March 28. Despite lingering snowfall in recent weeks, including more over the weekend, WSDOT successfully finished the job just a few days later than last year.

The spring clearing requires special rented equipment to be added to WSDOT's fleet of graders, loaders, excavators and blowers and typically takes between four and six weeks to complete. This year, crews also had to restore a stretch of roadway that was washed out during flooding in November between Marblemount and Newhalem.

Despite the added challenges, WSDOT officially reopened the North Cascades Highway with a traditional ribbon-cutting shortly before noon Tuesday. Officials reminded visitors that, though the roadway is now open, most facilities in the area have yet to reopen for the warmer seasons.

Work continues to reopen two other mountain passes that close each winter, Cayuse and Chinook passes, which usually open in late May or early June. Each year, WSDOT aims to reopen both passes by Memorial Day, and was able to meet the target last year.

Residents can keep up to date via the WSDOT blog and track reopening dates on the agency's website.