Highway 20 over North Cascades expected to be open by June 25

The state Department of Transportation announced May 15 that it expects to have Highway 20 over the North Cascades open by June 25.

The date is earlier than the department's previous estimate of July 4.

Several sections of the highway were damaged by December flooding and and a March rockslide.

The damage made it unsafe to open the highway until repairs were made, said the department.

A contractor began emergency repairs on the area near Diablo Lake on May 5.

A separate contractor began May 13 to work on repairing flooding damage near Granite Creek.

According to the department, necessary repairs to that section include 1,000 feet of land, two miles of shoulder, 1,000 feet of guardrail and barrier, and 15 culverts.

The department is not able to to alternate traffic on the highway during the construction because lanes have fully washed away and other pavement is unsound.

Parts of the eastern section of the highway reopened April 30.

The highway is an active work zone between Colonial Creek Campground (milepost 130) and Porcupine Creek (milepost 156), with no access allowed for hikers, bikers or campers.

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