Date:
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Contact:
Greg Phipps, WSDOT Communications, 206-440-4702 (Seattle)
Eric Walkinshaw, Mount Rainier National Park Project Manager, 360-569-2166
MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK – A section of State Route 123 within Mount Rainier National Park will reopen at noon this Wednesday, just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday.
The highway has been closed from the SR 410/SR 123 junction to Stevens Canyon Road since Tuesday, Nov. 13, after several large rocks fell onto the highway from the hillside above the northbound lane.
“Federal geotechnical experts carefully examined the hillside above the highway and determined that two large rocks we were concerned about are stable and the road is safe for travel,” said Park Superintendent Dave Uberuaga. “We are excited to reopen SR 123 for holiday travelers.”
To protect drivers WSDOT maintenance crews will place warning signs and traffic cones around the ditch where the rocks fell last week. The rocks will be broken up and removed once SR 123 closes for the season.
WSDOT maintains SR 123 within park boundaries under an agreement with Mount Rainier National Park. The park is responsible for planning and funding highway improvements and repairs.
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