Early-season roadwork, work on North Cascades Highway, continuing

MOSES LAKE — It’s getting warmer, ever so slowly, and road construction will be ramping up soon, but few projects are underway yet. Washington Department of Transportation crews have finished the first phase of clearing the North Cascades highway, but it’s not officially open yet. 

It’s still bumpy along Westshore Drive west of Moses Lake, and drivers are still encountering delays on the Vantage Bridge, but progress is being made on both projects. Both started in mid-March. 

Crews are excavating the road shoulder to add sidewalks along Westshore Drive, where 2.1 miles are being upgraded with a new road surface and subsurface, sidewalks, curbs and gutters. Grant County Engineer David Bren said in an earlier interview that the sections immediately north and south of the construction zone already have been repaved and have sidewalks. The 2025 project is the final piece. 

Crews are preparing the surface for sidewalks and gutters and are working on the roadbed. Bren said drivers should be ready for delays and to use detours, because Westshore Drive is reduced to one lane – and sometimes blocked altogether – where crews are working. 

Construction also is leading to delays along Interstate 90 at the Vantage Bridge, with the potential for delay highest on weekends.  

One lane on the bridge is open in each direction 24 hours per day, seven days per week. The speed limit is reduced to 40 miles per hour and loads more than nine feet wide are prohibited.  

The restrictions are in place through May 23, will be removed in June and come back in July.  

Summer Derrey, WSDOT assistant communications manager for the south-central region, said both lanes will be open eastbound and westbound from May 23 through July 8. Crews are working on other parts of the project during June, she said. 

But restrictions are in place from now until May 23 and will be back after July 8. Department of transportation officials are asking drivers to think about taking other cross-state routes at times of peak travel while the restrictions are in place. 

The North Cascades highway isn’t officially open yet, but Lauren Loebsack, communications manager for the north central region, said WSDOT crews are close to getting the road cleared of snow. 

“The crew estimates another week or two of repairs, but it’s looking like the potential for an April opening,” Loebsack wrote in a WSDOT press release. 

About 40 miles of the road are closed every winter. While most of the snow has been plowed, the road really isn’t ready for traffic, Loebsack said. 

“Once the snow is cleared from the lanes, crews work to open up shoulders and pullouts and start making repairs. The road remains officially closed until repairs can be made for a reason – the road surface is rough, with compact snow and ice still in some places. Drainages have not been cleared yet so if there’s rain, there may be mud, dirt (or) snow slides, or runoff on the roadway,” Loebsack said. 

The North Cascades sometimes attracts bike riders before it officially opens, and Loebsack said bikers should be prepared for winter weather conditions. 

“There has been fresh snow on the pass this week and nature makes the call about conditions in the mountains,” she said. “Be prepared.” 

The highway is closed to all traffic, including bikes, Monday through Friday.  

“Last year there were a couple of instances of people disregarding the signage and biking into the closure area that delayed work while the crew (waited) for them to exit the area,” she said.