It is under three miles but the final stretch of highway to Artist Point makes a huge difference in the sheer numbers of people that come out to our bucolic bit of paradise. There was one year where it never opened and summer business (summer is the best of the four seasons - where we make our money) was off by about 14%. From the Washington Department of Transportation:
Thanks to extra effort by crews, Artist Point opening on June 29 – earlier than expected
State Route 542/Mount Baker Highway to Artist Point will reopen by 5 p.m. Thursday, June 29 – thanks to hard-working crews putting in seven-day weeks on the seasonal stretch of highway.
Without willingness of the Washington State Department of Transportation crews to work the long weeks, this opening would still be weeks away. Dozens of feet of snow fell on this stretch of highway over the winter months. While there were a few sunny days, weather conditions in the last month have been challenging. The maintenance team spent most days working in thick fog, rain and even snow to clear the final 2.7 miles of Mount Baker Highway.
“The last time I saw this much snow was in 1999, when we couldn’t even open the road,” said WSDOT Maintenance Supervisor, Bill Joyce. “We had a lot of snow this year too, but the real challenge was the wind which created drifts more than 70 feet deep in some areas.”
In time for the 4th of July holiday - sweet!!!
Leave a comment