The famed scenic North Cascades Highway, also known as State Route 20, will fully reopen on June 19 — just in time for the weekend of the U.S. holiday Juneteenth. The reopening marks the latest opening on record in the road’s 54-year history, even though work finished a few days ahead of the planned June 25 completion date. By comparison, last year the highway reopened as early as April 22.
The extended closure was caused by two major natural events: a December flood that damaged supports and embankments, and a March landslide that buried the road under nearly 60 meters of debris. In May, highway crews began emergency repairs that included slope stabilization, debris removal, restoration of the damaged roadway, and repair of drainage systems and guardrails. Drivers can track the highway’s status via the WSDOT mobile app, a dedicated mountain-pass webpage, or by subscribing to email alerts.
Based on: North Cascades Highway opening in time for Juneteenth