Governor Bob Ferguson said Tuesday all lanes would open between Skykomish and Stevens Pass in both directions, but not 24 hours a day.

SKYKOMISH, Wash — Gov. Bob Ferguson said Tuesday that state officials are aiming to have a path cleared to Stevens Pass by Sunday. 

Ferguson said all lanes would open between Skykomish and Stevens Pass in both directions, but some restrictions over the pass will still be in place. This comes just a day after a partial reopening of access to the pass from the east side of the mountains. 

At this point, it’s unclear when on Sunday the portion of the highway between Skykomish and Stevens Pass will open.

An inspector report released Monday showed that a major bridge at milepost 54 is in “very good shape.” It needs some work after being covered by several feet of debris, but the permanent work will take place over the summer, according Secretary of Transportation Julie Meredith.

The reopening from the west side on Sunday is not intended as a thru route over the pass, but it will provide access to towns along the highway as well as the Stevens Pass Ski Resort. 

Officials are still encouraging people to use Interstate 90 to travel over the mountains.

The route between mileposts 64 and 71 will remain a single-lane piloted route through the end of January and officials warned that the highway will remain an active construction zone for months.

Highway 2 has been closed since Dec. 10 after mud, water and debris damaged the road in multiple locations. In some areas, the road was completely washed out and will have to be rebuilt.

On Dec. 16, Gov. Bob Ferguson said the highway would be closed for months due to the extent of the damage.

State Secretary of Transportation Julie Meredith said earlier this month that officials were “going to do everything we possibly can to repair it as quickly as possible.”

The closure is having ripple effects for communities on both sides of the mountains. The highway is an important winter corridor for the region, giving skiers and snowboarders access to Stevens Pass Ski Resort and allowing access to Leavenworth, which relies on winter tourism for revenue.

Limited reopening from the east

A limited reopening began Monday to allow skiers and snowboarders to access Stevens Pass from the east side of the mountains.

A pilot car is escorting vehicles the final seven miles to the summit, operating from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and depending on weather conditions.

The route requires anyone with season passes in western Washington to first travel across the mountains to Coles Corner before making their way back west to ski or snowboard.

The pilot car operation is expected to last about a month. After that, the state hopes to open one lane of the road in each direction.

A smaller stretch of Highway 2 between Index and Skykomish reopened on Dec. 11, a day after the initial closure.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.