SHORELINE—Governor Bob Ferguson announced Friday that a section of US-2 over Stevens Pass will partially reopen from the east side (Leavenworth side) starting Monday, December 29, offering very limited access to the Stevens Pass Ski Resort as inspections, clean ups, and repairs are underway from back-to-back atmospheric rivers that hit Washington in mid-December. The 49-mile closure between Skykomish and Leavenworth, caused by washouts, landslides and failure of drainage systems overwhelmed by historic flooding, will take months—at best—to fully resolve, Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Secretary Julie Meredith told reporters.
“We all understand how critical reopening Highway 2 is for residents of our cities and communities, for our economy, for the ski resort, for travel across our state,” Gov. Ferguson said “So we’re very, very mindful of that. And the team is working extremely hard to get it open as quickly as possible.”
US 2 will remain closed at milepost 54 just east of Skykomish, where a bridge is clogged with debris—piles four to five feet high above the roadway and crammed underneath. Contractors continue excavating to expose foundations, girders and drainage systems for inspection. The closure of this bridge impacts US 2 from Skykomish to Stevens Pass.
Ferguson said an update on west-side access to Stevens Pass would come Tuesday during a visit to Skykomish, hosted by its mayor, Henry Sladek. The reopening of the bridge hinges on engineering evaluations; if damage is found, fixes could extend timelines by possible months.
From Stevens Pass to Coles Corner—mileposts 64 to 85, roughly 21 miles—traffic will resume; however from milepost 64 to 71 will be under a 30-day pilot car guidance operation during daylight hours—6 a.m. to 6 p.m.—starting on Monday, December 29, allowing skiers and locals to reach the summit from the Leavenworth side of US 2. However, the highway remains far from a reliable cross-state route, with full repairs likely delayed until spring or summer due to weather and damage assessments.
Pilot cars will escort vehicles through a single-lane zone near the summit—mileposts 64 to 71. Sec. Meredith cautioned drivers to prepare for delays, follow speed limits and carry winter essentials like emergency kits, as all of the 49-mile stretch of US-2 impacted by the storms remain an active construction site vulnerable to snow, avalanches and spinouts.
“Reopening a road is not just about clearing what you can see,” Sec. Meredith said. “After storms like these, the greatest dangers are often the hidden ones. Washed out roadbeds, unstable slopes, undermined bridges and saturated soils.”
Friday’s announcement comes two weeks after back-to-back atmospheric rivers battered the region starting December 9, triggering widespread flooding, mudslides and infrastructure failures across Washington state. Crews from WSDOT and emergency contractors have cleared more than 90 damaged roads statewide, but eight sections, including this stretch of US 2, stay closed as hidden hazards like undermined bridges and unstable slopes demand thorough inspections.
Stevens Pass, at 4,061 feet elevation, typically sees harsh winters with average December highs around 31 degrees Fahrenheit, lows near 23 degrees and up to 93 inches of snowfall, making conditions unpredictable even in normal years.
“US-2 should not be considered a cross-state route at this time,” Sec. Meredith added. “Travelers should continue using I-90 or US-12 for east-west travel until conditions allow permanent paving, likely not till the spring or summer.”
For the Tumwater Canyon section near Leavenworth—mileposts 90 to 97—multiple washouts, shoulder failures and guardrail damage have forced a detour via Chumstick Highway and State Route 207 to Coles Corner. The 22-mile alternate adds about 20 minutes each way. Repairs there, dependent on receding river levels for slope stabilization, are projected for mid- to late March, aiming for at least one lane per direction.
Leavenworth Mayor Carl Florea, joining virtually, called the storms devastating for his town, known as “Christmastown USA,” where winter tourism fuels the economy.
“As Christmastown USA, I don’t have to say how devastating it’s been,” Florea said. “You [Gov. Ferguson] know that and are aware. And what I do appreciate is that you’re taking it as the emergency that it is and throwing all the resources that you possibly can at it.”
Skykomish Mayor Henry Sladek echoed the gratitude, highlighting the closure’s ripple effects on the Skykomish Valley, from Gold Bar to Monroe.
“We understand as well that this was a huge event and sort of unprecedented,” Sladek said. “I’ve lived in the area up there for over 20 years and haven’t seen anything to that extent.”
The ski resort’s reopening from the east offers some relief, but full access is crucial for recreation, family visits and commerce linking western and eastern Washington, Sladek added. Supplies reach Skykomish from the west without issue, though isolated cabins beyond milepost 54 have relied on limited WSDOT aid.
Gov. Ferguson has declared emergencies in more than a dozen counties, directing $3.5 million in state aid and activating relief programs. President Donald J Trump approved a federal emergency declaration on December 12, enabling 75% cost-share for protective measures like debris removal in affected counties. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. issued a public health emergency on Christmas Eve to streamline care access.
“I’ll start by saying I appreciate the President granting, I think you alluded to, the emergency declaration, which again is very different than a request for disaster relief,” Gov. Ferguson said. “The emergency declaration is very short-term, life-saving measures, clearing debris, that type of thing, and we deeply appreciate that.”
Gov. Ferguson added that he is also appreciative of the efforts by HHS Secretary Kennedy and the efforts by DHS Secretary Kristie Noem for securing FEMA assistance.
“From my level on down all the way down to coordination with FEMA,” Ferguson said. “At the staff level, we’ve been in pretty close contact with our federal partners and appreciate their assistance to be sure.”
No major disaster declaration has been issued yet, which would unlock broader aid for repairs, restoration and mitigation beyond an immediate response. Ferguson said his team is compiling detailed damage reports from homes, businesses and infrastructure to build a “robust” request in the coming weeks, potentially involving trips to Washington, D.C., to get the federal aid needed for Washington state.
“Having that request for disaster relief granted will be absolutely critical to the state of Washington,” he said.
Looking ahead, Ferguson plans a full review of the historic disaster—marked by record river levels—to identify infrastructure upgrades similar to those like the recent levees in Mount Vernon and Orting that mitigated flooding, something he prioritized in his $2.1 billion supplemental budget proposal last week.
As recovery ramps up, various resources for flood victims and those impacted by the US 2 closure can be found at https://wa.gov/how-to-guides/historic-flood-emergency-financial-resources-and-recovery-washingtonians.
Author: Mario Lotmore
