Washington officials announce limited reopening of State Route 2; west side access remains under inspection

Washington officials on Tuesday announced a limited reopening of State Route 2 from the east, while inspections continue on a damaged bridge near Skykomish that keeps the west side closed.

“Starting on Monday at 6 a.m., we will begin a limited reopening of a section of State Route 2,” Governor Bob Ferguson said at a press briefing, noting the move is intended to restore access to Stevens Pass and local communities while keeping safety paramount.

WSDOT Secretary Julie Meredith said the East Side reopening will run as a pilot-car operation from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., permitting travel from Leavenworth to Stevens Pass on roughly a 20-mile stretch between Mile Post 85 and Mile Post 64. “This pilot car operation is weather dependent,” Meredith said, and she cautioned that wind, snow, avalanches and winter driving conditions could require temporary closures.

Under the plan, traffic will be reduced to a single lane for the final seven to eight miles approaching the summit; drivers will follow a pilot car through the narrowed section. Officials said no reservation system will be used and urged motorists to expect delays and to travel prepared for winter conditions.

On the West Side, near Mile Post 54 just outside Skykomish, WSDOT crews are removing large debris piles both above and beneath a bridge to expose foundations and girders so inspectors can determine the structure’s condition. “Once they can complete a full inspection of that bridge and determine what damage is there, we will report what the next steps will be,” Meredith said. State officials said they plan to give a public update from Skykomish on Tuesday.

WSDOT also reported separate, significant damage through Tumwater Canyon near Leavenworth — including shoulder failures, guardrail damage and roadway washouts — and estimated that, once river levels drop and slopes are stabilized, that section could reopen mid to late March with at least one lane in each direction.

Officials encouraged travelers to use alternate routes for east–west travel until permanent repairs are possible. Meredith said drivers should continue using I-90 or U.S. 12 for cross-state travel and noted a detour around the Tumwater Canyon closure using CHEM 6 Highway and SR 207 that is about 22 miles and adds an estimated 20 minutes each way.

Ferguson said the state is compiling damage assessments to support a federal disaster-relief request. He contrasted a short-term emergency declaration — which he said the administration had received and which enables immediate life‑saving measures and debris-clearing — with the more detailed disaster-relief package the state is assembling for FEMA and federal partners. “We’re moving as quickly as we can on that,” Ferguson said.

Local officials welcomed the partial reopening. Carl Floria, identified at the briefing as Leavenworth’s mayor, said the pilot-car plan is “a first step” toward restoring visitors and local business traffic. Skykomish Mayor Henry Sladeck said most residents retain access from the West but that the washout beyond Mile Post 54 isolates a small number of cabins and remains the focus of crew efforts.

Officials said pilot-car operations are expected to continue for about 30 days until WSDOT can safely restore a lane in each direction, and they urged patience and caution from drivers. The state will provide further information after bridge inspectors complete their assessment and when the Tuesday Skykomish update is issued.