Steptoe Butte: Road closes again for WSP comm unit

The Washington State Department of Transportation, at the request of the state parks department, has completed a paving project at Steptoe Butte to make way for another project set to resume soon.

The paving project involved filling in pot holes on the road leading up to the butte for the purpose of transporting heavy machinery to the top for another construction project.

“The preliminary work by WSDOT has been done,” reported Toni Droscher, parks spokesperson. “It was done to patch the road so they could get the heavier equipment up the road.”

WSDOT initially had the road to the butte closed from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1 for the paving work, and the parks department had the road closed from Sept. 6-9 and Sept. 12-16 for infrastructure work at the top. The road was closed at that time because of large equipment, including cement trucks and cranes, in use on the road.

That infrastructure work is for a Washington State Patrol communications unit.

“It will be part of their communications,” commented Droscher, noting she does not know all of the details.

Droscher reported that, as of Sept. 19, the road was re-opened and would remain open for a two-week period while the concrete for the infrastructure cures.

“The building is concrete, so that’s curing,” she said. Droscher also said WSP has leased the property at Steptoe Butte for the building.

Droscher said the road will close again starting next week to allow for the infrastructure project to be completed. She said she anticipated the two-week closure to begin Monday, Oct. 3, at 6:30 a.m. and conclude Thursday, Oct. 13, at 4:30 p.m. During this two-week period, the road will be open on the weekends.

“This is a slower time of year, so it shouldn’t impact it too much,” said Droscher.

Droscher noted that while the work is being completed at the top of butte, equipment will be moving up and down the road, so it will be closed for safety purposes.