Mudslide closes North Cascades Highway

By Associated Press

Summary

The Transportation Department says a series of recent thunderstorms triggered the mudslide that closed the North Cascades Highway near Rainy Pass.

Story Published: Jul 30, 2009 at 12:11 PM PDT

Story Updated: Jul 30, 2009 at 12:11 PM PDT

Mudslide closes North Cascades Highway

WSDOT Photo

WENATCHEE, Wash. (AP) - The Transportation Department says a series of recent thunderstorms triggered the mudslide that closed the North Cascades Highway near Rainy Pass.

Spokesman Jeff Adamson says the slide Thursday afternoon was reported to the Washington State Patrol by a motorcyclist who rode into it, but was unharmed.

Crews hope to have Highway 20 reopened by 4 p.m. Thursday. They're removing about 300 yards of mud and debris up to 10 feet deep.

The highway is closed from just east of Diablo to 14 miles west Mazama.