Stevens Pass Closure

As of December 12th, Stevens Pass and the Tumwater Canyon are both closed due to the destruction to roadways resulting from rising river levels and winds. Mudslides on the side of the mountains washed rocks, trees, and debris over the roadways. The Wenachee River rose high enough to cover parts of US Highway 2. Ditches were made in an attempt to prevent damage to the highway, but the influx of water was too much for them to handle, and sections of the road have eroded away. 

When asked how long the pass will be closed, Johnny Burns, an Incident Response worker for the DOT, said, “I don’t know how long Stevens will be closed, but the Tumwarter will likely be closed for at least a few weeks.” 

Stevens Pass wasn’t the only place affected by these adverse weather conditions, as Blewett Pass experienced winds on the summit that reached up to 100 miles per hour. After the Labor Mountain fire caused destruction on the pass this summer, many trees were left burnt and unstable. WIth such high winds, dozens of trees were weakened and fell onto the highway.

DOT workers spent the day responding to calls and clearing the trees from the road, sawing them into manageable pieces and using snow plows to push the trees out of the way. Burns said, “I saw a tree fall onto the highway and hit a semi truck going down the pass right in front of me.” 

Eventually, the conditions became too dangerous for both workers and the public, sothe pass was closed overnight. The next morning, DOT employees were back out on the pass, clearing more trees that fell overnight. 

Blewett Pass is now reopened, though Stevens Pass and Tumwater Canyon remain closed for an unknown amount of time. Part of US 2 is still underwater and the level of damage is still unknown. 

“When traveling over the passes, preparation is more important than the journey itself,” Burns said. “Have a roadside emergency kit in the vehicle, pack extra water, snacks, and some blankets in case you break down. Check the pass reports and the DOT websites for the latest updates and pass conditions.”