SR 20/North Cascades Highway expected to fully reopen by Friday, June 19, as repairs near finish
(NEWHALEM)– The second of two emergency repair projects on State Route 20 is expected to finish work about a week early and in time for the Juneteenth holiday weekend. The Washington State Department of Transportation expects to fully reopen North Cascades Highway by Friday, June 19, provided the weather cooperates and no unexpected obstacles arise, according to a news release from the agency.
A section of SR 20 between Ross Dam Trailhead (milepost 134) and Porcupine Creek (milepost 156) has remained closed since North Cascades Highway partially reopened from the east side April 30. This closed section of highway was severely damaged in several areas by washouts in December 2025, making it unsafe to fully reopen the scenic, seasonal highway until repairs finish.
Crews began repaving damaged sections of SR 20 on Friday, June 5, and expect to finish paving work this week if the weather is dry. Some of the remaining work, including lane striping, also requires conditions that are dry and warm enough.
Since May 13, Sedro-Woolley’s Trimaxx Construction Inc. has focused on repairing washout damage along SR 20 between Canyon Creek Trailhead and the Granite Creek vicinity (mileposts 142-148). Necessary repairs along this 6-mile section of highway included:
- Three locations where the embankment supporting the roadway needed to be rebuilt
- More than 1,000 feet of lane that was undermined or collapsed
- Approximately 2 miles of damaged or collapsed asphalt shoulder
- Approximately 3 miles of damaged ditch line
- More than 1,000 feet of damaged guardrail and concrete barrier
- About 15 damaged or buried culverts
Trimaxx has worked seven days a week in multiple areas and expects to complete repairs about a week before working days for the emergency contract are used up on Thursday, June 25. In addition to finishing paving, remaining work includes grinding rumble strips and areas for reflective pavement markings, grading rock on the highway shoulders, replacing guardrail, landscaping and erosion prevention, and installing lane striping.
SR 20 remains an active work zone between Ross Dam Tailhead and Porcupine Creek. No access is permitted in this area, including for hikers, bikers or campers.
After finishing repairs on a rockslide area near Diablo Lake, WSDOT moved the westside closure point to Ross Dam Trailhead on May 30, restoring access to the popular outdoor recreational area and the Diablo Lake Vista Point.
WSDOT continues to work with its contractor to fully reopen North Cascades Highway as quickly as it is safe to do so. Updates will be provided as available on the project webpage, WSDOT’s SR 20 blog or by signing up for SR 20/North Cascades Highway email updates. Photos and videos of repair efforts are available on the SR 20 Flickr album.
Real-time travel information is available via the WSDOT mobile app, the WSDOT travel map or by signing up for WSDOT's email updates.