Tumwater Canyon to close for slope work

LEAVENWORTH — The section of US-2 that runs through Tumwater Canyon will face daytime closures from Aug. 19 to 21 for rock removal.

The highway will close from Coles Corner (milepost 85) to just west of Icicle Road in Leavenworth (milepost 98) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. 

Passenger vehicles can use Chumstick Highway as a detour. However, freight and oversized vehicles must use US-97 Blewett Pass. Residents and businesses within the closure will have access at Coles Corner up to the work zone at milepost 97.

The closure will allow crews to stage equipment and efficiently perform work on slope sites 3 and 4 of the Washington Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) US-2 slope stabilization project. 

The $2.3 million project addresses four rock slopes between Stevens Pass and Leavenworth with a history of active rockfall in order to increase public safety. The work will include repairing damaged slope stabilization systems and scaling loose rock at the four identified sites. Project work began in July and is expected to finish in September.

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media