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Route History for US 2 in Washington

• In 1926, the route US 2 now follows was numbered WA 6 from Newport to Spokane, WA 2 from Spokane to Leavenworth, and was not numbered between Leavenworth and Everett. The road was improved (not paved) between Newport and Spokane, paved to Reardan, improved to Leavenworth, dirt to Sultan, and then paved to Everett. In 1926, the section of road over Stevens Pass had not been completed. WA 6 followed what is now Camden Road, Elk Camden Road, North Milan Elk Road, North Milan Road, North Calispel Road, and Pend Oreille Highway between Newport and Spokane. Through Spokane, the road followed what is now Market Street, Greene Street, Freya Street, Sprague Avenue, and Sunset Boulevard. Between Spokane and Davenport, the road followed Sunset Highway, South Carstens Road, and Old State Highway. Between Almira and Hartline, the road followed Main Street, Starkel Road, Road 42 NE, and Road W NE. Between Orondo and Merritt, the road followed what is now WA 28, Business US 2, Old State Highway, Cottage Avenue, South Division Street, Sunset Highway, Stines Hill Road, Johnson Kinney Road, Deadman Hill Road, WA 209, and WA 207. Between Skykomish and Index, the road followed what is now Old Cascade Highway and Cascade Highway. Through Snohomish, the road followed what is now 92nd Street NE, 2nd Street NE, Avenue D, and Bickford Avenue.
• By the 1930s, the road had been renumbered US 195 between Newport and Spokane. Between Spokane and Wenatchee, the road was renumbered US 10. The road was still not numbered at this time between Wenatchee and Everett, but had been completed. Most of the road followed the same path as in 1926, except between Leavenworth and Merritt, and Skykomish and Index, where the road was realigned to its current route.
• By 1944, the road had been renumbered Alternate US 10 between Spokane and Everett. Between Newport and Spokane, US 195 was realigned to US 2's current path. In Spokane, the road followed 3rd Avenue and Sunset Boulevard. The entire route in Washington had been paved by this time, except over Stevens Pass, where the road surface was only improved.
• By the late 1940s, the route was renumbered US 2.
• By 1950, all of US 2 in Washington had been paved.
• Between 1956 and 1968, US 2 was realigned to its current route between Spokane and Reardan. US 2 was also realigned to its current route between Cashmere and Leavenworth.
• By 1972, US 2 was realigned to its current route through Spokane.
• By 1978, all of US 2 in Washington had been realigned to its current route except through Snohomish, where US 2 still went through the middle of the town.
• By 1980, US 2 had been rerouted around Snohomish.

Key to Abbreviations for Route Numbers:

• US - US Highway
• WA - Washington State Highway

External websites of interest:

• Additional historical information about US 2 in Washington can be found on the Highways of Washington State website.
• A description and photos of the old US 2 alignment through Moses Coulee can be found on the American Road forum.

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