North Cascades Highway reopens amid quick work by crews

DIABLO, Wash. – Getting across North Cascades National Park in northern Washington is now a whole lot easier after the annual reopening of the North Cascades Highway.

KOMO-TV reports that the Washington State Department of Transportation says the highway reopened Thursday morning after a “dedicated crew” was able to clear the 37 miles (about 60 kilometres) of snow-covered road in less than four weeks.

The Department of Transportation says this year’s clearing was their fastest since 2013. The road had closed for the season on Nov. 28.

The Department of Transportation says the National Park and US Forest Service trailheads and rest area facilities between the gates are typically not available until a few weeks after the highway is cleared.

The highway will remain open until snows create too much avalanche danger.

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Information from: KOMO-TV, http://www.komotv.com/