Another section of Highway 2 between Skykomish, Stevens Pass to reopen this weekend

A normally busy stretch of Highway 2 between the town of Skykomish and Stevens Pass will reopen this weekend, Gov. Bob Ferguson announced Tuesday.

Historic flooding washed away and damaged sections of the highway between Skykomish and Leavenworth earlier this month.

On Monday, limited access to the Stevens Pass ski resort from the east was partially restored.

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Speaking from Skykomish Tuesday morning, Ferguson said repair crews have been working seven days a week to clear debris and fix roads. Officials also got good news from inspectors about a bridge at Milepost 54, west of Stevens Pass.

"The bridge is, all things considered, in very good shape," Ferguson said. "It will need some work, but that work can wait. The bridge is structurally sound."

While an official reopening time has not yet been given, Ferguson said all lanes of the road would be accessible without restrictions on Sunday.

"We all recognize that we got a good dose of luck to have had things go our way, to be in a position to open up this stretch of highway," Ferguson said.

On the east side of the highway, drivers got the OK to begin traveling between Coles Corner and Stevens Pass with restrictions on Monday. A pilot car currently leads drivers through one open lane for seven miles between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

RELATED: Partial Highway 2 reopening will allow access to Stevens Pass

But repair work on roads damaged in recent flooding isn't over. Washington State Secretary of Transportation Julie Meredith said more than 90 roads were damaged or closed after two atmospheric rivers soaked the region. Some were fixed quickly, Meredith said, but other "complex" issues will take more time to address.

"We won't reopen unless we feel that we can do so in a safe manner," Meredith said.

Meredith estimated at least five feet of debris over the bridge at Milepost 54 had to be removed before inspectors could check it out. Logs were also stuffed underneath. Inspectors found one of the bridge's girders and a concrete culvert had been damaged, but not enough to hinder travel. Those repairs will be addressed this summer, Meredith said.

Drivers should still take precautions and hit the road with a full tank of gas, emergency supplies, and patience.

Ferguson said highway repairs could take until March. The total cost for those repairs is still being determined. The state is currently going through the process of making a request to the federal government for disaster relief.

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In the meantime, business owners in communities along the highway have been struggling.

The two weeks families typically get off for the holidays are usually the busiest of the winter season. Skykomish is a popular spot for Stevens Pass skiers to eat or relax , but the highway closure has resulted in some businesses losing up to 80% of their revenue, according to Glenn Eburn, who owns LouSkis Deli in Skykomish.

"We're a little more fortunate, we've lost about 60%" Eburn said.

Washingtonians from across the state have tried to support the community however they can, though. Eburn said he's seen an outpouring of donations come through, and people have come from as far as Bellingham and West Seattle to grab a coffee or lunch from open businesses.

Skykomish Mayor Henry Sladek predicted the highway's reopening will create a busy day for the town, as people are "chomping at the bit" to hit the slopes.

Come Sunday, he expected the town to be "slammed."

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