Washington State Department of Transportation announced that SR 504, Spirit Lake Memorial Highway, seasonal reopening is delayed due to COVID-19 pandemic. @wsdot will continue to coordinate the highway reopening with the U.S. Forest Service, which plans to ease closures in alignment with Goveronor Insee's Safe Start Washington plan. Full release: http://wsdot.wa.gov/news/2020/05/08/sr-504-spirit-lake-memorial-highway-remain-closed.
Please note: Johnston Ridge Observatory and Visitor Center also remains closed.
CLIMBING: St. Helens permits issued prior to the COVID-19 closure, for 5/15 & later, are valid & climbing route is open. Mt Adams permits currently not being issued.
Alert: Six additional pavement sites on an open section of Forest Service Road 90 (between milepost 0.7 and milepost 15.2), are scheduled to be repaired during the month of May. Paving of roadway repair sites on Forest Road 90 has been scheduled for the 5/26, 5/27, and 5/28 and continues to be dependent on good weather.The work is expected to result in only minor delays as one lane closures with flaggers on both sides to assist with keeping traffic moving.
Waterbars on Forest Road 86 are only drivable with high-clearance vehicles, sedans or other low-clearance vehicles will not be able to drive the route.
Heavy rains have caused severe damage to the following roads in the northern portion of the forest: Forest Road 59, and Forest Road 75 (at milepost 3.0). These roads are impassable and will be closed until further notice. Please contact Cowlitz Valley RD 360-497-1100 for additional information.
The Adams Fork Bridge on FR 5601 at MP 2.0 on the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District is CLOSED because it is beyond its service life, was damaged in flooding in 2015, and has suffered ongoing scouring of the foundation since that time. Recent inspections show it as only able to support its own weight. For public safety, the bridge has been closed pending repairs, effective immediately. The bridge is closed to all traffic. Signing and physical barriers will be placed as soon as possible.
FR 5601 provides access to the Ollalie Lake/Takhlakh Lake area and developed sites and trailheads along FR2329. Alternative and more convenient access to those areas from the north is available via Forest Road 23 directly to FR2329 (south end) and via FR 23/21/56/5603 to FR 2329 (middle). For additional information, please call the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District at 360-497-1100.
Forest Road 29 (McCoy Creek) is currently closed to all traffic at the intersection of Forest Road 2904 (Mile Post 4.1) as part of the ongoing road reconstruction contract. Closure is provided for under the contract for purposes of safety and security. Heavy construction traffic makes use of the road by others very hazardous.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, construction and the associated closure is expected to last through the remainder of this season and into next year. We continue to engage with the contractor regarding potential conditions and timing under which other administrative or public access may be safely allowed. For additional information, please contact the Cowlitz Valley RD at 360-497-1100.
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