North Cascades Highway to reopen Friday

WENATCHEE, Wash. — The Transportation Department says the North Cascades Highway will reopen at noon Friday after one last sweep. Crews have been removing snow and debris and clearing avalanche chutes since March 22. Spokesman Jeff Adamson says the work would have gone quicker except 100 inches of snow fell in that period. The 36-mile stretch of Highway 20 between Diablo and Mazama was closed Nov. 17 because of winter snow over Rainy and Washington passes. The department also says crews working on Cayuse Pass expect to reopen Highway 410 on the east side of Mount Rainier National Park by April 30.