BRIEF: Highway 2 to reopen with one lane

SKYKOMISH, Wash. – Flood-damaged sections of Highway 2 just west of the Stevens Pass summit should reopen for one-lane traffic Sunday, the state Department of Transportation said.

The agency will install temporary signals to allow alternating one-way traffic at a damaged bridge six miles east of Skykomish, after a weekend of stabilizing repairs following Tuesday’s heavy rain and snowmelt. Drivers can expect delays of 20 minutes on Sunday and 10 minutes on Monday, and oversized loads are still prohibited from crossing the bridge.

Crews will continued to replace soil washed away from under the southeast corner of the bridge with concrete reinforcements. Both lanes should be open for traffic by Tuesday, although oversized loads may still be barred until further notice.

The repairs are estimated to cost between $200,000 and $500,000. WSDOT is seeking emergency relief funds from the Federal Highway Administration to complete the repairs.