Knapps Hill Tunnel gets lighting upgrade; US97A to be closed Sept. 8–24

CHELAN — Washington State Department of Transportation (DOT) crews will be working to replace failing lights inside the Knapps Hill tunnel on US97-ALT (97A) between Entiat and Chelan from Sept. 8 – 24.

The work means that the highway will be completely closed 24 hours a day during the 17-day window, with no access at all to that part of the road. The project is part of a larger “Illumination and Signal Cabinet Update” transportation package that has already fixed or replaced signal cabinets (traffic lights) in Leavenworth and parts of Grant County.

Two detours are available: For commuters traveling from Wenatchee to Chelan, take US97 on the east side of the Columbia River to the Beebe Bridge at SR150, then into Chelan on SR150. For commuters from Entiat to Chelan, take 97A to SR971/Navarre Coulee Road/Lakeshore Drive, then back to 97A into Chelan.

The commute times added by the detours are nominal, but should still be accounted for. The Wenatchee–Chelan detour via the Beebe Bridge takes approximately 5 extra minutes, while the Navarre Coulee detour will add about twice that.

The project entails replacing the existing lighting system, including conduits, wiring, and support structures, with a modern system. This upgrade will enable functions based on ambient light and incorporate a backup system for blackouts. Failure to replace the lights would lead to dangerous driving conditions in the tunnel due to poor visibility, according to the DOT.

You can check the real-time travel map at https://wsdot.com/Travel/Real-time/Map/ for any changes or updates to the schedule and for current travel conditions.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media