 Dec. 19, 2025
 Due to damage from recent storms, the Mount Baker Highway will remain closed east of Glacier (milepost 35) until further notice.
The historic string of destructive storms that created difficulties for many people statewide the past two weeks certainly did not leave the northwest corner of the state alone. Unfortunately we’re still feeling the effects.
State Route 542/Mount Baker Highway will remain closed east of Glacier at milepost 35 until further notice. Only essential utility and maintenance crews will be allowed beyond the closure point until the road is safe to reopen for travel.
With imminent winter weather and the road condition it was determined that opening even one lane wouldn’t be possible.
We understand this closure prevents people from reaching beloved winter recreational areas at the Mt. Baker Ski Area and in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, and we did not make this decision lightly. The closure was made in the interest of safety, and we ask everyone to respect the well-marked closure points. This is an active work zone, and the safety of travelers and our crews is of utmost importance.
A culvert and the road will need additional repairs, but we need to understand the scope. Our experts, including geotechnical and hydraulic engineers, are evaluating the area, which will help us develop a repair plan, get a contractor in place and determine a timeline for reopening SR 542 as quickly and safely as possible.
 Recent storms damaged SR 20 near milepost 145 beyond the seasonal closure point of the North Cascades Highway. While winter recreating in this area is something that many look forward to, this is not the place to be snowshoeing or snowmobiling.
Our maintenance crews continue to clear and repair SR 20 in eastern Skagit County after the storms.
As of Friday, only essential, local-access traffic is allowed east of Marblemount (milepost 112). All other vehicles are asked to respect the closure point and give our crews a safe work zone so they can reopen more of the highway as soon as it is safe to do so.
The seasonal closure of the North Cascades Highway is in place and currently begins at milepost 134. While winter recreating in this area is something that many look forward to, there are multiple areas of concern beyond the closure points and this is not the place to be snowshoeing or snowmobiling.
Please also keep an eye out for our crews along open sections of SR 20 west of Marblemount, as we’re still working to clear culverts and make repairs to mitigate risk to the highway from future storm systems.
Our crews have reopened a single-lane of SR 530 north of Darrington (milepost 58) for essential, local-access traffic only. All other vehicles should use alternate routes.
A temporary traffic signal will alternate local-access traffic until further notice.
We'll reduce southbound Interstate 5 to a single lane in Bellingham to repair a guardrail. From 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23, southbound I-5 travelers should expect the left lane to close north of the Iowa Street exit (milepost 254). Drivers should slow down and watch for workers during the lane reduction.
Our maintenance crews will repair a guardrail that was damaged by a vehicle traveling through the area.
SR 9 will remain closed between SR 20 and West State Street/Trail Road (milepost 55) in Sedro-Woolley until repairs are made to a rail crossing signal box that was damaged in a crash Nov. 1.
The signals box, which facilitates safe operations of the railroad crossing, is owned by BNSF Railway. It was damaged beyond repair. We also own equipment that must be replaced and are coordinating this effort with BNSF. Crews made temporary adjustments to signal timing on SR 20 while the intersection is closed.
There is no estimate for the roadway to reopen, but you can use West State Street/Trail Road as a short detour around this closure.
We often have special events and roadwork taking place in the Northend, including construction projects, maintenance and repairs, though that work will be limited during the holidays. We always try to minimize any effects to travel, but sometimes it is necessary to close a lane to do the work or create a safe work zone for our crews.
If you spot our crews, slow down and give them space to work! A huge thanks to our crews for all their hard work.
Want more information? Visit our real time travel center, where these projects and repairs can be found on our travel map, and download our app to receive alerts directly to your smartphone.
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Whatcom County
Interstate 5
- The left lane of southbound I-5 will close from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 23, near Iowa Street (milepost 254) for guardrail repair.
State Route 9
- Flaggers will alternate traffic from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 22-23, from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Dec. 24, and from noon to 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 26, near Nelson Road (milepost 80) for utility work.
Skagit County
State Route 20
- Flaggers will alternate eastbound and westbound traffic from 9 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21, to 5 a.m. Monday, Dec. 22, between Gardner Road and Peter Anderson Road (mileposts 61-62) for utility work.
David Rasbach
WSDOT communications
david.rasbach@wsdot.wa.gov
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