Emergency repairs are on the horizon for a segment of State Route 530 south of Rockport, after floodwaters unleashed by an atmospheric river in early December wreaked havoc on the highway. Starting Monday, Dec. 29, Trimaxx Construction, Inc., as selected by the Washington State Department of Transportation, will set to work near milepost 59. The effort will involve constructing a temporary bypass on the east shoulder to keep local traffic moving.
Alongside praying for drier days, residents can expect delays during the month-long repair period anticipated to last until January 2026. Local drivers have been navigating a disrupted SR 530 since the Sauk River swelled to alarming levels, washing away a significant portion of the highway's side. According to a recent update from WSDOT, "The work area for crews to rebuild the embankment and backfill the roadbed with gravel," will be facilitated by the bypass.
In the wake of the disaster, a week-long closure was necessary for water to recede and damage assessments to take place. Now, the state department is urging those not from the area to avoid using the SR 530 passage between Rockport and Darrington to ease the burden on construction.
Much-needed construction techniques include backfilling the caved roadbed with gravel and restoring the embankment. Teams will then pave and stripe SR 530, ensuring it's set for the comeback. While this repair saga unfolds, "People should continue to expect delays and limit use of SR 530 between Rockport and Darrington to local access during construction," has been the advice echoed by WSDOT to all concerned parties.
