US 2 slope stabilization project to begin mid-July near Leavenworth, full three-day closure planned

LEAVENWORTH — Crews with the Washington State Department of Transportation will begin slope stabilization work along U.S. Highway 2 between Stevens Pass and Leavenworth later this month, with a full closure of the highway scheduled for three days in Tumwater Canyon.

The project, set to begin Monday, July 21, will address rockfall hazards at four sites in Chelan County by removing loose rock and placing netting over unstable slopes adjacent to the highway. The affected slopes have a history of active rockfall.

From Monday through Thursday, between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., travelers should expect single-lane closures and flagger-controlled traffic at the following locations:

• Site 1: Milepost 60 to 61, near the summit of Stevens Pass
  
  
• Site 2: Milepost 94, Tumwater Canyon, approximately 5 miles west of Leavenworth
  
  
• Site 3: Milepost 96
  
  
• Site 4: Milepost 97 to 98
  
  

WSDOT said rock removal at Sites 3 and 4 will require a full closure of US 2 at Tumwater Canyon for three consecutive days. The closure is tentatively scheduled for late July or early August, pending slope conditions and construction progress.

During the closure, passenger vehicles will be detoured via Chumstick Highway. The detour will add approximately 33 minutes to the trip and covers a 23-mile alternate route. Freight vehicles will be rerouted via US 97 over Blewett Pass, adding 151 miles and about 2 hours and 38 minutes to the journey.

Once the closure dates are finalized, WSDOT will issue a travel advisory and update information on its project webpage, mountain pass page, real-time travel map, and via its @WSDOT_East account on X (formerly Twitter).

The slope stabilization work is expected to be completed by late September.