SR 20 North Cascades Highway is now fully open
information released
You’re reading that correctly!
We fully reopened SR 20 North Cascades Highway in both directions Sunday, June 14, after two emergency repair projects wrapped up work. Hey, I thought you had heard the last of me, too, but it seems we were destined for a Lucky Week 13 update.
We’ve added a few “finishing touches” photos to our album, so take a look at the SR 20 Flickr album.
Ties the latest reopening on record
This June 14 opening matches 1974 for the latest opening of the scenic seasonal highway since we began keeping records in 1972. But Sunday’s opening comes nearly three weeks before the Fourth of July, which was the goal we set for fully reopening North Cascades Highway in early May. It’s also five days earlier than the updated timeline we forecasted last week.
Shout out to our crews and contractors
Skagit County contractors Trimaxx Construction Inc. and Interwest Construction Inc. each worked seven days a week and completed their emergency contracts in fewer than the allowable working days.
Interwest stabilized a slope and removed debris from a rockslide that occurred in March near Diablo Lake (milepost 131). That work finished on May 30. Since May 13, Trimaxx focused on repairing washout damage along SR 20
between Canyon Creek Trailhead and the Granite Creek vicinity (mileposts 142-148).
Watch out for wildlife!
I know many of you are eager to hit the open road. If you do, please watch for wildlife. They haven’t seen vehicles traveling at highway speeds through the area in a while. Workers have reported many deer and bear sightings – many with young – on or near the roadway. It will take them a while to transition to the North Cascades Highway being fully open.
Happy summer, enjoy the open road, and thanks to locals, travelers, recreators, and SR 20 enthusiasts alike for bearing with us during this unconventional journey towards reopening.
Take care, everyone!
Rachel Terlep, Statewide Social Media Manager
rachel.terlep@wsdot.wa.gov
