A section of the cross-state highway remains closed as clean-up continues

information released; photo above: Trimaxx Construction Inc. began emergency repairs Wednesday, May 13, at several areas of SR 20 between mileposts 142 and 148 where washouts during December’s atmospheric river weather event caused significant damage.

It’s Thursday!

Which means a fresh batch of SR 20 North Cascades Highway updates. For those who might have missed the last few newsletters, a reminder: the highway remains closed between mileposts 130-156. The east side is open up to milepost 156. Let’s get to it…

Work on the areas damaged by washouts is underway

We finalized a second emergency contract, and work began Wednesday, May 13, to fix a 6-mile stretch of SR 20 between Canyon Creek Trailhead and Granite Creek (mileposts 142-148) that were damaged by washouts in December. You can see some early pictures of that work on our Flickr album.

Our contractor for this project, Trimaxx Construction, is the same crew that repaired a section of SR 530 that was washed out by the Sauk River in the December flooding.

Our goal is to reopen North Cascades Highway in full by the Fourth of July, and to help accomplish that goal, both contracts require work 24 hours a day, seven days a week when it’s safe to do so.

Specialized crews drill into the rock face to create holes that will anchor 20- to 60-foot steel dowels that will help stabilize a slope at the site of a March 17 rockslide along SR 20 near Diablo Lake.

For those of you who like numbers, here’s the scope of Trimaxx’s work:

  • Three locations where the embankment supporting the roadway needs to be rebuilt.
  • More than 1,000 feet of lane that has been undermined or collapsed.
  • Approximately 2 miles of damaged or collapsed asphalt shoulder.
  • Approximately 3 miles of ditch line that needs to be repaired.
  • More than 1,000 feet of damaged guardrail and concrete barrier.
  • Approximately 15 culverts that are damaged or covered by debris.

You can find a map that denotes each of these damaged areas on our blog. 

Mileposts mean nothing to me, I want trailheads!

We got an email last week from someone asking to confirm which recreation sites are currently accessible. So, to those of you who are more fluent in trailhead, here’s a summary of what you can and can’t get to right now.

On the west side:

  • Diablo Lake Overlook and Ross Dam Trailhead are behind the closure point and NOT accessible
  • Gorge Dam Viewpoint and Gorge Overlook Trail ARE accessible

On the east side:

  • Easy Pass Trailhead is behind the closure points and is NOT accessible
  • Washington Pass Overlook, Blue Lake Trailhead, Rainy Pass Trailhead, Maple Pass Trailhead, Cutthroat Lake Trailhead ARE accessible from the east

Crews complete scaling work and break down boulders to be hauled away from the site of a rockslide along State Route 20/North Cascades Highway in March near Diablo Lake.

Where do we go from here?

This newsletter normally serves as a vehicle for updating North Cascade Highway fans on our typical seasonal clearing efforts. This year has certainly not been typical. But now that both emergency contracts are underway and work is forecasted to last through early July, we might not have an update every week.

That doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten about you. It just means I might not have anything new to share. But when we do, you’ll hear from me.

Until then, take care and travel safe.

Rachel Terlep, Statewide Social Media Manager
rachel.terlep@wsdot.wa.gov