Repairs To Close Chinook Pass

Sun., Sept. 7, 1997

Businesses along Washington 410 worry they’ll lose money with the closure of Chinook Pass for repairs later this month.

“It cannot be a positive thing to have a main artery cut off,” said Doug Williams, manager of Whistlin’ Jack Lodge just east of the summit.

When the pass is closed, it knocks off revenue from lodging and food sales by 90 percent, Williams said.

The highway will close from Sept. 15-26, from east of the summit to Morse Creek. Crews will repair a section damaged during the heavy runoff that contributed to the February 1996 flooding.

Chinook Pass is between Yakima and Mount Rainier National Park.

Engineer Rick Gifford of DOT said they never considered closing the road during the summer, when travel was at its peak.

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