Sunset Highway Between Wenatchee and Ellensburg
Down West Bank of the Columbia River County Engineer Warner Recommends Route.
Leavenworth Echo
November 19, 1915

County Engineer Warren after making a reconnaissance of the proposed route of the Sunset highway from Wenatchee to Ellensburg, going by way of the west bank of the Columbia river, gives it as his opinion that this route is the most- feasible, shortest and has less engineering difficulties than any portion on the entire route of the Sunset highway. He states it as his opinion that the Columbia river route is the most feasible way to connect Ellensburg with Wenatchee and prefers it to either the Blewett or Vantage route.

Tho he does not say anything about the relative cost it is generally believed it will be quite a costly undertaking for Chelan county. The Kittitas county portion will not be so costly. It will require the building of twenty odd miles of new road, principally along the breaks of the Columbia river. The entire road is estimated to cost $200,000. It is proposed to abandon the Blewett route and the Stevens pass road, if Mr. Warren is correctly quoted.

The proposed route by way of the Columbia river will cross the Ellensburg range at an altitude of 3250 feet. The Blewett pass is slightly over 2000 feet, and is practically built. The distance from Wenatchee to Snoqualmie pass by way of the Columbia river will be increased at least 150 miles over the distance by way of the Blewett pass.