NEWHALEM — A section of major cross-state highway that closed earlier this month because of a wildfire in Washington state’s North Cascades National Park will reopen Wednesday.
The Washington state Department of Transportation initially closed State Route 20 or the North Cascades Highway between Newhalem and Rainy Day Pass on Aug. 4 to ensure firefighter safety as they fought the Sourdough fire. The road reopened the next week and then closed again on Aug. 11 between Newhalem and Silver Star.
Transportation officials said Tuesday after crews removed rocks and debris that the road would reopen at 8 a.m. Wednesday for travelers passing through. Officials urged travelers not to line up on the road ahead of the reopening and warned that the road could close again because of fire activity.
No stopping will be allowed on the highway as fire crews continue working on the Sourdough and Blue Lake fires in the area. All recreation in the area east of Newhalem remains closed by the National Park Service, transportation officials said.