Work to restore state Route 410 to pre-flooding condition started today, Dec. 22.

However, details on how much the project will cost, if or how construction will delay traffic, and when the highway between Enumclaw and Greenwater — and, perhaps most importantly for the local economy, the Crystal Mountain Ski Resort — will open are scarce.

“Emergency repairs include rebuilding the foundation of the roadway and repaving the road surface,” a Washington State Department of Transportation press release reads. “Once construction begins, contractors will work around the clock to complete the repairs and restore travel in the eastbound lane.”

State Route 410 closed on Dec. 10 when an atmospheric river hit Washington state and the White River overflowed; Washington State Department of Transportation employees said the water came up to their headlights at the deepest point at the closure, located at milepost 38.

But it was when Boise Creek jumped its banks that the highway took lasting damage, as the usually tame body of water took out some of the sediment underneath the road, collapsing the eastbound lane.

This cut off the town of Greenwater from its closest neighbor. Greenwater Fire Chief Paul Sowers organized twice-daily convoys that brought people from the town of about 130 residents into and out of Enumclaw for supplies.

The convoys stopped on Dec. 16, when automatic traffic lights were installed to alternate traffic in the westbound lane, which was altered to reduce weight on the damaged roadway.

How the alternating traffic and potential construction delays will affect the Crystal Mountain Resort and the cities of Enumclaw and Buckley, which have businesses that often rely on the influx of winter tourists, is unclear.

However, Crystal Mountain opened for the 2025/2026 season with limited operations on Dec. 20.

Due to highway construction, “Crystal Mountain capped the number of parking reservations offered to reduce the number travelers on Highway 410 while the interim solution is in place, which is expected at least through January and is subject to change,” the resort said in a press release. “Guests should not attempt to visit Crystal Mountain without a parking reservation. Guests without a parking reservation will be turned around, in addition to creating unneeded stress on the interim plan.”

Additionally, the shuttle service from Enumclaw to the resort is not running.