Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Contact:
Casey McGill, Asst. Regional Administrator (Maintenance and Operations) (509) 577-1901 (Yakima)
Mark Ettesvold, WSDOT Communications, (509) 945-7702 (Yakima)
Portion of SR 123 connecting northeast and southeast sections of Mount Rainier National Park remains closed
MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK - Washington State Department of Transportation crews opened State Route 410 Chinook Pass to travelers at noon Thursday, May 25, marking the end of a challenging winter and spring. Travelers from the north and east can now access the White River entrance to Mount Rainier National Park off of SR 410 coming from Enumclaw or Yakima, and make their way to the White River campground and the Sunrise Visitor Center. The Stevens Canyon Road entrance at the southeast entrance to the park was also opened Thursday; visitors can access Stevens Canyon from the southeast via SR 123/US Highway 12 and on to the west side of the park.
Coordination, cooperation key in complex effort
Snowfall was much greater than last year in the area; workers faced snow 25-30 feet deep in some places. A 500-square-foot roadway washout two miles east of the Chinook Pass summit complicated matters. "Everyone had to pull together this year," said Casey McGill, WSDOT regional maintenance chief. "We know how important getting the pass open by Memorial Day is to the public, and it's a matter of pride for us. Maintenance, construction, and contractor crews had to coordinate their work and cooperate with one another to make it happen this year." McGill added that crews feel a sense of reward when the pass is opened. "Our folks love the feeling of seeing that first group of vehicles cross the pass, smiling and waving. It makes all the hard work and long hours worth it."
WSDOT crews have been busy over the last week putting the finishing touches on the pass. The work included removing rocks from the roadway and roadside ditches, addressing tip outs (partial collapses of snow walls), and reinstalling damaged signs. Avalanche crews finished their work early and pitched in on the remaining work to get the pass open by the holiday weekend.
SR 123 within park remains closed
The 10.9-mile segment of SR 123 from just south of the Cayuse Pass (intersection with SR 410) to just north of the intersection with Stevens Canyon Road remains closed as the National Park Service works with WSDOT and the Western Federal Lands Highway Division (WFLHD) to repair two sections of damaged roadway after a rockslide and washout. Officials hope to have the roadway repaired and open later this summer. Drivers who normally use SR 123 to get to and from US Highway 12 can use Interstate 5 and SR 7 as alternate routes or via SR 410 east to the intersection with US 12 near Naches. For detours available around the closure, visit:
www.wsdot.wa.gov/Traffic/Passes/Cayuse/Detour+Map.htm
Know before you go
Although Chinook Pass and much of Mount Rainier National Park are now open, winter conditions linger there longer than at lower elevations. Travelers this weekend can expect cold and possibly snowy conditions, and are also advised that further snowfall could necessitate some delays for avalanche control work. WSDOT maintenance and avalanche crews will patrol the roadways throughout the weekend to keep drivers safe and roads clear. Short delays are possible if conditions change.
Maintenance crews will be making routine road patrols this weekend for rocks and tip outs. Avalanche crew members will also be present to monitor for changing conditions.
Mount Rainier National Park information can be found online at:
www.nps.gov/mora
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Drivers can get current traffic and weather information by dialing 5-1-1 from most phones. This new traveler information system builds upon the highly successful Washington State Highway hotline that manages 4.6 million calls each year. Callers can also use 5-1-1 to get statewide construction travel advisories, mountain pass conditions, and state ferry system information, as well as toll-free numbers for passenger rail and airlines. TTY users can call 1-800-833-6388.
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