SR 542/Mount Baker Highway to reopen daily east of Glacier beginning Sunday, Dec. 21

(GLACIER)– Beginning at 6 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 21, State Route 542/Mount Baker Highway will reopen from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through the holidays. This will restore temporary, daily access east of Glacier to the Mt. Baker Ski Area and Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, according to a news release from the Washington State Department of Transportation.

Flaggers or temporary traffic signals will alternate eastbound and westbound traffic through a single lane between mileposts 41 and 44. People should expect delays.

Contractors working for the WSDOT are developing a strategy to make permanent repairs to SR 542. Details will be released when they are finalized.

Until 6 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 21, SR 542 remains closed east of Glacier (milepost 35). SR 542 closed after a series of soaking storms earlier this month flooded and damaged the roadway. WSDOT engineers have assessed the highway and determined temporary repairs have made SR 542 safe for travel in an alternating configuration until more permanent repairs can be finished in early 2026.