New work hours should reduce delays on US2

SKYKOMISH – After nearly two weeks of road preservation work on US 2 in three locations west of Stevens Pass, the Washington State Department of Transportation is revising work hours to reduce driver delays that reached up to two hours.

Earlier this month, contractor crews began daytime work to resurface two sections of US 2 near Gold Bar and repave a third near Skykomish. With work occurring simultaneously in two to three sections, travelers encountered lengthy waits as the highway was reduced to one lane of alternating traffic.

Beginning the week of July 24, crews will work in only one section at a time during high impact work that requires a longer work zone. They might work in two sections in shorter work zones. Crews will also work overnight in the longest of the three sections to reduce daytime travel delays. This should shorten both daytime and nighttime wait times to 20-30 minutes.

New work hours:

• From Gold Bar to Skykomish Junction and Eagle Falls to east of Baring:

o   Single lane closures allowed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

o   Drivers should expect delays of approximately 30 minutes.

• From Money Creek campground to Tye Creek

o   Single lane closures allowed from 10 p.m. Sundays to 5:30 a.m. Mondays for repaving.

o   Single lane closures allowed 6:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Mondays through Friday mornings for repaving.

o   Drivers should expect delays of approximately 20-30 minutes.

Travelers will encounter additional construction work on US2, including a pavement rehabilitation project in Tumwater Canyon near Leavenworth with delays of 20-30 minutes from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.