Originally published April 25, 2008 at 12:00 AM | Page modified April 25, 2008 at 8:16 PM

North Cascades Highway may reopen on May 1

Crews may reopen Washington's North Cascades Highway on May 1

Seattle Times Travel staff

Road crews, struggling through an exceptionally heavy snow pack, hope to open Washington's North Cascades Highway on May 1.

The scenic mountain highway in north-central Washington closes each year because of heavy snowfall. It connects the Skagit Valley with the Methow Valley, and is a popular summertime tourist route.

Crews have been clearing the highway from both the east and west sides. About a mile of the highway near the 4,855-foot Rainy Pass remains uncleared as of today. Crews working with heavy equipment hope to clear the last mile of snow and meet up late Monday or Tuesday, weather permitting.. The highway then would open on Thursday, May 1, says the Washington Department of Transportation.

Last year, the highway reopened on April 26. In earlier years, it's sometimes reopened in March

Get updates and see photos of the highway-clearing at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/passes/northcascades/

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