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SR 20/North Cascades Highway reopens following fire, mudslide closures

Aug 24, 2024, 1:02 AM

Image: State Route 20 (SR 20) North Cascades Highway reopened to traffic at noon on Thursday, Aug. ...

State Route 20 (SR 20) North Cascades Highway reopened to traffic at noon on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo courtesy of the Washington State Department of Transportation)

(Photo courtesy of the Washington State Department of Transportation)

A portion of State Route 20 (SR 20)/North Cascades Highway closed since Aug. 4 due to area wildfires and a major mudslide reopened Thursday afternoon, the (WSDOT) reported in a press release and on social media.

The roadway was closed between Granite Creek and Easy Pass trailhead (milepost 148-157), the agency stated.

SR 20 closed in that area on due to the Easy Fire. That blaze was ignited in the middle of July after a lightning strike, as the federal government website explained.

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While that portion of the North Cascades Highway was closed as crews fought the Easy Fire, that a significant mud slide following a rainstorm on Aug. 11 covered at least 100 feet of the highway near milepost 152聽and that it was going to take about two days to clean up. A day later on Aug. 13, the agency it was changing the estimated cleanup time to “several more days.”

WSDOT followed through on its previous social post and provided an update on Monday. But it didn’t announce the reopening of the highway. Instead, the agency illustrated how much mud and water reached the roadway and how much work was being put into the cleanup.

The cleanup has since been completed and WSDOT reported approximately 7,000 tons of material needed to be cleared to make the highway drivable again.

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SR 20 has reopened: What’s to come in that area

SR 20 may have reopened, but the agency is reminding travelers fire crews are continuing to work in the area in response to the Easy Fire. The reported that as of late Friday, the size of the Easy Fire was still over 2,100 acres and it was just 36% contained.

WSDOT also stated a 35 mph advisory speed zone has been posted between milepost 150 and 154 of the roadway. In addition, there are no pullouts or passing through in this section. Travelers should remain alert for fire and maintenance vehicles exiting and entering the roadway, the agency also stated.

WSDOT also reported in its press statement that beginning at 7 a.m. Monday “there will be flagger-controlled traffic with a pilot car between milepost 150 and 154 so maintenance crews can continue to clear basins and restore drainage.” The road will remain open without a pilot car during non-working hours.

Steve Coogan is the lead editor of MyNorthwest. You can read more of his stories here. Follow Steve on , or email him here.

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