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February 8 2026 Vol. X • No. 3
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Contractors Repair Washington Flooding Damage Contractors across northwest Washington are deploying convoys CEG CORRESPONDENT of heavy construction equipment to repair and restore state highways crippled by December 2025’s historic flooding, many working around the clock to clear debris and restore washed-out roadways. For instance, Granite Construction’s Puget Sound Region, based out of Everett, deployed a fleet of Caterpillar excavators, loaders, drum rollers, asphalt rollers and pavers to remove roughly 10,000 cu. yds. of mudslide and flood debris, along with damaged road materials, from a 2-mi. stretch of U.S. 2 east of Skykomish — a main route to Stevens Pass, one of the state’s most prominent winter recreation areas. The highway was closed on Dec. 10, and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) assessed the road’s condition the next day. WSDOT contacted Granite on Dec. 15, after weather conditions had stabilized, and work on an emergency contract began five days later. Granite had two to three excavation crews made up of five operators and laborers working in shifts 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until it was safe for inspectors to explore the site to determine the safety reopening the roadway, said Quinn Golden, a senior project manager for Granite. Heavy equipment mechanics were on scene to handle any issues during the road rebuilding; on any given shift, 10 to 15 dump trucks were moving materials in and out of the site, Golden said. The job took approximately 9,000 tons of crushed surfacing base course and 500 tons of HMA. Additionally, Granite had a crew working simultaneously at their Smith Island Asphalt Plant in Everett and employed subcontractors for the hauling work, saw cutting, street sweeping, material testing, guardrail placement and pavement marking. While the work was completed ahead of schedule, there were significant challenges to making that happen, Golden said. There was the pressure of getting the work done so the highway could reopen as soon as possible, the rough terrain of a remote location (approximately 70 mi. east of Seattle), By Lorie Jewell
Granite Construction photo
A Cat excavator removes debris left by flooding.
Washington State Department of Transportation photo
TriMaxx Construction is repairing a section of State Route 530, roughly 8 mi. south of Rockport in Skagit County.
and the winter weather — rain, snow, and freezing temperatures — all combined to create a significantly tough working environment. “Reopening U.S. 2 was critical for winter recreation and the regional economy,” Golden said. “WSDOT is a great partner, and our team was honored to help reopen U.S. 2, which is a vital connection between western and eastern Washington.” Hurst Construction of East Wenatchee also worked an emergency contract for another section of U.S. 2 from Stevens Pass east to Tumwater Canyon to remove debris, make drainage repairs and stabilize the roadway, according to a WSDOT release. see FLOODING page 8