WINTHROP — In one of those signs that spring really is coming, the North Cascades Highway (State Route 20) opened for travel Friday.
The gates at either end of the 33-mile section were to swing open at 10 a.m., according to a press release from the Washington Department of Transportation.
“This section of SR 20 from milepost 134 to 171 closes every winter due to safety and access concerns,” the press release said. “The road closed for the winter Nov. 30; spring cleaning began March 25.”
The North Cross-state, as it’s sometimes called, is the northernmost east-west route over the Cascades. It’s far enough north that it’s still a little wintry up there, and travelers should be prepared for possible snow and ice, the press release said. In addition, many of the National Parks Service and U.S. Forest Service facilities haven’t opened for the summer yet.
“(Department of Transportation) crews will clear the road and shoulder and any pullout areas needed for maintenance work, but otherwise there are few facilities open and no cell service through the mountain passes.” the press release said.
Even though it’s mid-April there is still the potential for avalanches along the North Cascades, the release said, and people should take that into account when making the trip.
Construction work is already in full swing down in the valleys, and — at least along State Route 17 between the Lake Lenore Caves and the Soap Lake city limits — has been since mid-February. A project to stabilize the rock slope along the 10-mile section of SR 17 is expected to continue through September or October.
Single-lane traffic is being allowed through the construction zone during working hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Sebastian Moraga, WSDOT public information, said the current schedule will be in effect until further notice.
Drivers are stopped for 20 minutes, traffic is let through in one direction, then the other direction, then traffic is stopped for 20 minutes. Loads more than 12 feet wide are prohibited in the construction zone during work hours. There are no traffic restrictions before and after work hours.
There are alternate north-south routes between Soap Lake and Coulee City, but the DOT does not have a designated detour.
