Welcome to Skagit County

August 17th, 2004

WSDOT MAKES PROGRESS ON MOVING NORTH CASCADES HIGHWAY MUDSLIDES

SEATTLE – Washington State Department of Transportation maintenance crews continue to move debris and mud from the North Cascades Highway (SR 20) in North Chelan County, the site of last night’s multiple mudslides. Four separate slides currently block the road at mileposts 149, 150, 153 and 156, just west of Rainy Pass.

At milepost 149, there is a 300-foot wide slide approximately eight feet deep. At milepost 153, the 300-foot slide is approximately 10 inches deep. The third and fourth slides are being cleared.

“We won’t know the full extent of the situation until the entire road is cleared and we can assess the damage underneath all the mud. We should know more by this afternoon,” said WSDOT’s Assistant Regional Administrator Dave Bierschbach. “That said, we are being told more thunderstorms are forecast. It could get worse before it gets better.”

WSDOT is attacking the slides from the west and the east. Twenty WSDOT workers using loaders, dozers and dump trucks are hauling debris on the east side. WSDOT is calling on equipment more than 100 miles away to speed up the process. Two people with one loader are hauling debris from the west side. Currently the road is closed to all traffic between milepost 134 (near Diablo) and milepost 174. These are the regular winter closure points.

WSDOT is working as quickly as possible, but safety is the most important issue. We cannot open the road until it is safe for divers. Currently, we are recommending drivers use US 2 to cross the Cascade Mountains. WSDOT is making every effort to provide continuous communication with drivers, travelers and businesses on both sides of Rainy Pass.

The mudflows began at 6 p.m. after a heavy afternoon thunderstorm dropped rain and hail in the area. Sixty people were trapped by the slides, 25 fire crew members and 40 members of the general public. WSDOT crews were able to clear the road by midnight and those stranded were able to leave. No one was hurt and no vehicles were damaged.

For the latest on the situation, please visit our Web site www.wsdot.wa.gov/northcascades or the voice activated 511 driver information system. Both are updated as conditions change.

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For updated information on the above and other Department of Transportation traffic revisions in the Puget Sound area, call the Commuter Information Line at DOT-HIWY (206-368-4499). The Commuter Information Line may also be reached toll free in Washington at 1-800-695-ROAD (7623). TTY users can call 1-800-833-6388 and ask for (206) 515-3683.