After a major wildfire shut down Highway 97 for weeks, the mountain highway that connects I-90 to Highway 2 reopened Tuesday afternoon on the east side of the Cascade Range.

The route had been closed since Sept. 21, creating a detour that adds more than 80 miles to the drive.

“This is great news for those who are tired of taking the detour,” according to the state Department of Transportation.

Meanwhile, the 62-square-mile Labor Mountain fire continued to burn south of Leavenworth, on both sides of Highway 97. About 1,500 personnel were battling the fire as of Tuesday, helped by 14 helicopters that were also working on the slightly larger Lower Sugarloaf fire northeast of Leavenworth.

A pilot car will guide drivers at all hours for about 13 miles between Upper Tronson Creek Road and In

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