NACHES, Wash. — A stretch of U.S. Highway 12 will be closed tonight to allow crews to blast a rock outcropping, the state Department of Transportation announced this morning.

The closure begins at 7 tonight and remains in effect until 6 a.m. Tuesday. More overnight closures may be enacted on other Monday or Thursday nights through Dec. 24, DOT officials said.

During the closure, westbound traffic will be required to turn around or wait at the Oak Creek Feeding Station, about eight miles west of Naches.  Local traffic will be able as far as the Windy Point campground. Eastbound traffic will be required to turn around or wait at the White Pass summit. Local eastbound traffic will be able to travel as far as Rimrock Retreat.

Alternate routes are Interstate 90 and U.S. Highway 97 to Interstate 84.

Both State Route 123 Cayuse Pass and State Route 410 Chinook Pass are closed for the season due to heavy snow and avalanche danger, DOT officials said.

-- Phil Ferolito