Starting mid-July, drivers traversing the scenic route of US 2 near Leavenworth should expect some delays. A major paving project is scheduled to begin on Monday, July 14, covering the stretch from milepost 78 near Coles Corner to milepost 89 at the Chiwaukum Creek trailhead. As per an announcement from the Washington State Department of Transportation, kindly shared by the WSDOT, this maintenance work is set to resurface the existing roadway and to also include bridgework near Nason Creek.
In what seems an effort to minimize the inconvenience to motorists, the WSDOT will primarily conduct the work during off-peak hours. Initially, work will unfold from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, July 14, but is to quickly switch to nighttime hours between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., starting Tuesday, July 15. This scheduling move aims to strategically dovetail with a concurrent slope-stabilization effort that zeroes in on multiple sections of US 2, to hopefully ease up on the collective traffic disruption.
Those planning to head towards the popular tourist destinations beyond Stevens Pass will have to navigate through single-lane closures, guided by flaggers and pilot vehicles at the toil of the construction crews during working hours. It’s part of a dance that drivers and road workers choreograph annually — a bid to extend the life of the infrastructure we often take for granted until it buckles and breaks beneath our wheels.
The work is set against the backdrop of summer, when travel peaks and the call to the wild is strongest. Completion is anticipated by mid-October, a promise suggesting the roads will be clear when the leaves begin their turn and tourists chase the autumnal palette. It’s a necessary interruption one must endure — to ensure the roads that carry us to rendezvous with nature are up to the task when it matters most.
Travelers are encouraged to plan ahead and stay informed by checking the project's progress and traffic impacts through the WSDOT website or through local news outlets for up-to-date information. Through careful planning and a bit of patience, these efforts to preserve and maintain our highways will ultimately result in smoother and safer travels through Washington’s picturesque landscapes.
