Chuckanut Drive (State Route 11) will remain closed through June as emergency crews work to clear debris and stabilize the slope following the April 22 rockslide south of milepost 10.
The slide, which deposited an estimated 5,000 cubic yards of debris — including boulders up to 15 feet in diameter — has shut down both directions of the highway between the Oyster Dome trailhead and Chuckanut Manor. This section lies roughly five miles south of Larrabee State Park.
A geotechnical engineer assesses the rockface above Chuckanut Drive south of Larrabee State Park, Wash., on April 23, 2025. The Washington State Department of Transportation continues to monitor a large overhanging rock, which poses potential safety hazards. // Photo courtesy of WSDOT
A multi-stage cleanup
Washington State Department of Transportation crews and contractors are now working six days a week to remove the debris, stabilize the steep slope and repair the damaged roadway.
"Now that the area has settled, we can mobilize crews to begin the clearing process," said RB McKeon, communications manager for WSDOT’s Northwest Region. "The road cannot be reopened until it has been deemed safe to do so, and we cannot deem it safe until we can see the surface and make any repairs needed to restore it."
According to WSDOT, initial efforts involve breaking up and hauling away the largest boulders. Crews will then use hand tools and compressed air to remove loose rock from the cliff face.
A key hazard for crews is a precarious 20-by-12-foot rock slab with a visible tension crack. To secure remaining material, teams will drill into the rock face and insert stabilizing bolts, followed by grouting and tightening to lock the slope in place.
Once crews have removed loose rock, WSDOT will assess the pavement, replace damaged guardrails and begin restoration work. Until then, Chuckanut Drive will remain closed.
Detours in place
Access to businesses, trails and parks along Chuckanut Drive remains open via alternate routes. From the north, travelers can take Interstate 5 to exit 250 (Old Fairhaven Parkway). From the south, drivers can use exit 231 (Bow-Edison/Chuckanut Drive North).
Business and tourism take a hit
The extended closure comes at the height of the spring tourism season and has already begun impacting local businesses.
“This is usually a busy time,” said Guy Colbert, owner of The Oyster Bar, located just a half-mile from the slide. “I’m probably going to lose 40% of sales for a couple of months. This is my fourth big rock slide—this is the biggest one.”
Andrew Mayer, president and CEO of the Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce, emphasized that while the closure impacts the region, it's not a total shutdown.
“It is definitely one of the two corridors, but it’s not the main one,” Mayer said. “[Chuckanut Drive] is awesome, beautiful and preferred if you want to see great sights, but for getting around quickly, people usually take [I-5].”
Looking ahead
WSDOT plans to complete repair work near milepost 13 — the site of a separate rockfall from November 2024 — once the current site is stabilized. During that work, flaggers will manage brief traffic holds, allowing continued access to local trails, businesses and Larrabee State Park.
For updates and detour maps, visit the WSDOT website or follow regional traffic alerts.
Oliver Mortell (he/him) is a member of the city news beat team and is currently in his first quarter with The Front. He is a third-year public relations major with a passion for storytelling and community engagement. Outside the newsroom, Oliver enjoys reading, cooking, creating digital art, and exploring new places on foot. He can be reached at olivermortell.thefront@gmail.com.
