Highway 20 over North Cascades opens

Highway 20 over the North Cascades opened to traffic Tuesday.

State Department of Transportation crews opened the winter closure gates at 11 a.m. at mileposts 134 near Diablo and 171 near Mazama.

Crews spent the past five weeks clearing the 37-mile stretch of highway of snow.

Though original estimates were that it would take eight weeks to clear the highway, crews were able to speed up the process with help from spring rains that melted snow in some areas.

Crews cleared more than 45 feet of snow from below Liberty Bell Mountain and more than 20 feet in many other avalanche chute areas.

Crews got a relatively late start this spring in clearing the highway. That late start led to the third latest reopening.

Opening the highway for the upcoming summer season not only provides drivers another option to cross the Cascades but reconnects U.S. Bike Route 10 between Skagit and Okanogan counties.

The Department of Transportation advises travelers using Highway 20 over the North Cascades to be prepared for quickly changing conditions and limited facilities between Diablo and Mazama.