Expect slower commute time through US Highway due to rock slope work near Peshastin

The rock slope located at US-2 at milepost 102.5 near Peshastin will be undergoing a rock slope scaling project starting on June 14, extending time for the daily commute.

Drivers should expect full stop closures on US-2 until July 4 at the latest, but the Washington State Department of Transportation hopes to have the project finished before then. The project was originally scheduled to begin on Monday, June 13, however there was a slight delay in acquiring steel bolts and dowels.

Drivers are advised to prepare for a longer than usual commute to and from Leavenworth. The full stop closures will stop traffic 20 minutes at a time. Each day after 11:30 a.m., a flagger will direct traffic into one lane.

Because of the slope’s proximity to the highway, full stop closures will be necessary for the rock scaling component of this project. The contractor will perform rock scaling activities beginning Monday from 6 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for up to two days.

After the rock scaling project, the contractor will start work on applying rock dowels and shotcrete to the area, which should take up to 11 days. Drivers should expect a one-lane flagger-controlled area and a maximum 20-minute delay from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.

WSDOT Communications Manager for the North Central Region, Lauren Loebsack, states that this project was funded through a program that monitors and mitigates rock slopes near highways and that this area requires work due to rapid erosion and increasing rock fall frequency.