SR 20/North Cascades Highway fully reopens Sunday, June 14, after extensive repairs
(NEWHALEM)– The Washington State Department of Transportation fully reopened State Route 20/North Cascades Highway in both directions Sunday, June 14, after two emergency repair projects completed work.
The June 14 opening matches 1974 for the latest opening of the scenic seasonal highway since records began being kept in 1972. But Sunday’s opening comes nearly three weeks before the Fourth of July, which was the goal WSDOT set for fully reopening North Cascades Highway in early May, according to a news release from WSDOT.
Before Sunday, a section of SR 20 between Ross Dam Trailhead (milepost 134) and Porcupine Creek (milepost 156) remained closed after North Cascades Highway partially reopened from the east side April 30. This section of highway was severely damaged in several areas by washouts in December 2025.
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 with more than 1,000 lineal feet of steel rock dowels and removed more than 2,500 cubic yards of debris from a rockslide that occurred in March near Diablo Lake (milepost 131). That work finished May 30, allowing WSDOT to move the west side closure point to milepost 134 and restore access to popular recreational opportunities at Diablo Lake Vista Point and Ross Dam Trailhead.
Since May 13, Trimaxx 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:
- Rebuilding washed out embankment that supported the highway at three locations
- Repairing and repaving more than 1,000 feet of highway that was undermined or collapsed
- Restoring about 2 miles of damaged or collapsed asphalt shoulder and about 3 miles of eroded ditch line
- Replacing more than 1,000 feet of damaged guardrail and concrete barrier
- Clearing and repairing 15 damaged or buried culverts
- Using mulch and seeding for erosion control on rebuilt slopes
- Installing pavement markings and striping
Though repairs have finished, Trimaxx will continue to remove construction equipment from the area the next few days. People traveling SR 20 should watch for workers removing heavy construction equipment from the area, but this should not affect traffic.
People should also be alert for wildlife, which is not used to vehicles traveling at highway speed limits through the area. 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 North Cascades Highway being fully open.
Real-time travel information is available via the WSDOT mobile app, the WSDOT travel map or by signing up for WSDOT's email updates.