Suiattle River Road-CLOSED

[JasonG]

FYI- Doesn't sound good for summer access . . .

 

For Immediate Release Contact: Heidi Hooper

Date: March 7, 2007 425-259-7911 or 360-436-1155

Forest Service Closes Suiattle Road 26 Because of New Road Failure

Due to concerns for public safety, the Darrington Ranger District has closed Forest Service Road 26, locally known as the Suiattle River Road, until further notice, according to Peter Forbes, District Ranger. The Suiattle River Road begins seven miles northeast of Darrington, off State Route 530. A site located six miles up the Suiattle River Road has failed where the river is undermining the roadway. A landslide remains active at this site, and continues to take more of the roadway with it into the river, making the road unsafe for motorists to travel into the Suiattle area.

Several road and trail systems in many popular areas of the Darrington District have suffered serious damage from major flood events in October 2003 and November 2006, including multiple sites along this 25-mile-long road. As winter rains and snowmelt continue in 2007, landslides also continue to occur. Three sites damaged in 2003 have prevented road access to popular campsites and trailheads for more than three years. Repairs to these sites had begun last fall, when November floods damaged the road at the twelve-mile point, downstream of the 2003 site repairs.

The Forest Service has contacted the Washington Department of Natural Resources to pursue an easement for a temporary bypass on State land around the six-mile damage site. A permanent reroute may involve moving the road farther away from the Suiattle River, to avoid this slide and another unstable area 200 feet beyond it. The reroute would extend public access to the twelve-mile washout; the remaining road would remain inaccessible until repairs can be made.

A public open house at the Darrington Ranger Station, 1405 Emens Avenue North, in Darrington, is scheduled for Tuesday, March 13, from 4:30 to 9:00 pm. Maps showing the District’s 2003, 2006 and latest road and trail damage locations and closures, along with other projects, will be available for viewing. For more information about the closures or the public meeting, contact the Darrington Ranger Station at 360-436-1155.