State to reopen US 2 west side to Stevens Pass Sunday; bridge at Mile Post 54 deemed safe for traffic

Governor Ferguson and Washington State Department of Transportation Secretary Julie Meredith announced at a Skykomish briefing that the west-side stretch of U.S. Highway 2 to Stevens Pass is expected to reopen this Sunday after an inspection found the bridge at Mile Post 54 usable for traffic.

"The bridge is structurally sound," Meredith said, noting crews removed more than five feet of debris from above and underneath the span. She said inspectors found a cracked girder but determined "it's not a crack that will be hindering" the bridge's immediate use; the repair will be scheduled as part of more permanent summer work.

Ferguson described the news as "fantastic" and thanked the emergency contractors and WSDOT crews who have worked seven days a week. He cautioned that the reopening is limited: the west-side stretch will open with "all lanes, no restrictions" for access to the pass, but full, 24-hour pre-storm access to Leavenworth and other downstream sections will remain limited for months.

Meredith said crews also repaired a concrete culvert that had been half washed away and are restoring roadway above it. She emphasized safety is the top priority: "We won't open unless we feel that we can do so in a safe manner," and warned that the corridor will remain an active construction zone, with drivers required to follow posted signs and pilot cars when used.

On the Stevens Pass east side, Meredith said piloted one-way traffic is operating from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. through January, and officials hope to open a single lane in each direction after winter conditions allow further work. She also described extensive damage in Tumwater Canyon — "over 16 areas" washed out — and said a detour from Coles Corner to Leavenworth remains in place and is circuitous.

Ferguson said the state is compiling a disaster-relief request to send to FEMA in the coming weeks; the request will document damage and help determine federal aid. He said a formal FEMA review typically takes weeks and then goes to the White House, and the timing of final federal decisions is outside the state's control.

Next steps for the public: officials said they will announce the specific time on Sunday when the corridor will open as soon as they are confident about logistics and safety; full restoration of US 2 to pre-storm conditions will take months and involve summer construction at identified damaged locations.