Road Alert for Chumstick Highway near Plain, Lake Wenatchee
Chumstick Highway is a county road; however, Chelan County Public Works and the Washington State Department of Transportation have a long-time agreement that states when Hwy 2 through the Tumwater Canyon is closed due to emergency highway repairs, natural hazards or other highway obstructions, the state is allowed to use Chumstick Highway as a detour route for eastbound and westbound traffic. When these situations occur, WSDOT is responsible for the maintenance of the detour route.
Tumwater Canyon is closed at this time until the state can make repairs to the highway that was damaged by the December flooding and rainstorm. Those repairs are expected to be completed in mid-March. Motorists should plan for delays on Chumstick Highway because of the increase in traffic.
Please note: Trucks weighing more than 26,001 pounds gvw (gross vehicle weight) are restricted from using the detour. This does not include local deliveries to Plain and those vehicles contracted by WSDOT in its emergency repairs. Chumstick Highway also has bridge restrictions and height restrictions.
Posted Jan. 7:
Repairs on Chumstick Highway will be rescheduled as weather conditions allow, according to WSDOT.
Posted Jan. 6:
Repairs on Chumstick Highway are rescheduled for Jan. 7 and 8.
Pavement repairs scheduled for Chumstick Highway have been postponed to Wednesday and Thursday, Jan. 7 and 8.
Crews started work at 8 a.m. on Jan. 5 on one of nine locations identified for repairs, but work was delayed due to equipment issues at the contractor’s asphalt plant. Work will restart at 8 a.m. on Jan. 7 with a mobile operation at several locations.
Work will require flagger-controlled traffic and will continue until paving is complete, which is estimated to be midday on Jan. 8.
Chumstick Highway is a rural county road with lower speeds, bridge restrictions and longer travel times. Drivers should plan for delays. Check the WSDOT Real Time Travel Map for current travel conditions.
Posted Jan. 5:
The speed limit on a portion of Beaver Valley Road has been temporarily lowered to 35 mph to accommodate an increase in traffic resulting from closures on US 2. The speed reduction is from approximately Pobst Place to the Wenatchee River bridge near Plain.
Beaver Valley Road and Chumstick Highway are serving as a detour route because of the ongoing closure of US 2 through the Tumwater Canyon, from Coles Corner to Leavenworth. The reduced speed limit will be in place until the state can make repairs to US 2, which are expected to be completed in mid-March. WSDOT put the reduced speed limit in place after discussions with Chelan County Public Works due to concerns from residents.
Posted: 01/06/2026 07:59 AM
Last Updated: 01/07/2026 07:45 AM