Yakima Skiers and Riders Hope to See Pass Open Soon

Officials with the Washington State Department of Transportation say they're working to open Highway 12 over White Pass as soon as possible.

More snow fell on to the road on Tuesday night

The pass was opened for a short time on Tuesday but then closed overnight because of more snow avalanches that blocked the road. Meagan Lott the South Central Region Communications Manager says crews are now working to clear the lanes on the east side of the pass to allow people to drive to the top of the pass and enjoy skiing and riding at the White Pass Ski Area. The west side is still closed because of a large boulder that is hanging over the eastbound lanes that could impact traffic and be dangerous if it falls. Lott says they are working with a company to remove the rock but like many other companies they're short on workers and the rock removal could take several days. She's hoping both sides of White Pass will be open by the weekend.

Record setting snowfall has kept crews busy 24/7

All the mountain passes have been impacted by record setting snowfall and now rainfall that's creating dangerous conditions for drivers. Lott says they need to make sure hillsides along the road are stable. They don't want traffic in an area where there's a potential for a major avalanche. So far only one car has been caught in the slide on Highway 12 but no injuries were reported. Lott says it's a challenge for crews to remove the slides since they contain large rocks and trees. She says crews are hoping to stabilize slopes and open the road before the weekend.

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