State Route 123 could reopen in late September

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CRAIG HILL
The News Tribune
Published: September 7th, 2007 11:12 AM

State Route 123 on the east of Mount Rainier could reopen Sept. 28, Mount Rainier National Park officials said Friday morning.
The estimated opening date is contingent on weather favorable enough for crews to work.

State Route 123 was washed out during flooding on Nov. 6-7, 2006. It’s closure left the park with no route between Paradise and Sunrise – the park’s two most popular destinations.

However, even when the road reopens you won’t be able to drive between Paradise and Sunrise because Stevens Canyon Road will be closed Sept. 20 to Oct. 26 for repair. The road is currently open, but vehicles must alternate using one lane near Highway 123.

The park will soon announce the contract to repair Stevens Canyon Road will be awarded to Cherokee Joint Venture of North Bonneville.

from: http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/updates/story/150194.html

[Webmaster]

CRAIG HILL AND JEFFREY P. MAYOR
The News Tribune
Published: September 13th, 2007 01:00 AM

Highway 123 on the east side of Mount Rainier could reopen Sept. 28, Mount Rainier National Park officials said last week.
The estimated opening date is contingent on weather favorable enough for crews to complete the work.

The highway that runs along the eastern edge of the park was washed out in several place during flooding on Nov. 6-7, 2006. Its closure left the park with no easy route between Paradise and Sunrise – the park’s two most popular destinations.

However, even when the road reopens, you won’t be able to drive between Paradise and Sunrise in the park because Stevens Canyon Road will be closed Sept. 20 to Oct. 26 for repair. The road is currently open, but vehicles must alternate using one lane near the Stevens Canyon entrance station.

The park will soon announce the contract to repair Stevens Canyon Road will be awarded to Cherokee Joint Venture of North Bonneville.


PARADISE PROJECTS


While much of the focus this year has been on flood recovery, work has continued on the $35 million effort to renovate Paradise Inn and build a new visitor center at Paradise.

“We were behind a few months ago, up to 22 days behind, but we’re getting close to being back on schedule,” said Eric Walkinshaw, the park’s project manager. “It was primarily the weather we had last winter and not being able to get up there for a few weeks.”

Crews have enclosed the inn and are working to get the roof on the visitor center before winter. Paving of the parking lot near the inn was to be done Monday.

The inn is scheduled to reopen in May and the new visitor center is to be completed in August and open in September. The existing Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center will be torn done after that.

If you want to keep track of the progress on the visitor center, check on the Web cam at mms.nps.gov/mora/cam/newvc.jpg.

from: http://www.thenewstribune.com/adventure/story/155040.html

[Webmaster]

CRAIG HILL
The News Tribune
Published: September 25th, 2007 04:51 PM

Highway 123 on the east side of Mount Rainier will open at noon Friday for the first time since the road was washed out by flooding Nov. 6.
However, drivers still will not be able to drive between Paradise and Sunrise without leaving Mount Rainier National Park.

Flood damage being repaired on Stevens Canyon Road will keep the road closed for the rest of the season. Cherokee Joint Venture of North Bonneville is repairing the road for $552,504.

Saybr Contractors Inc. of Tacoma handled the repair of Highway 123 for $4.9 million. The company started work June 18.

Starting Oct. 1, Wildland Inc. of Richland will complete vegetation restoration work along Highway 123. The work is expected to last until Oct. 25.

from: http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/updates/story/164486.html