State transportation officials who feared U.S. Highway 2 would remain closed between Leavenworth and Stevens Pass announced the passage had reopened late Tuesday.

The 35-mile stretch of highway was closed when trees crashed down on two cars and killed two people on Saturday.

At about 3:15 p.m. on Christmas, state transportation officials announced the highway was reopened to traffic.

The highway is one of two primary east-west routes through the mountains usually open during the winter.

Transportation spokesman Jeff Adamson told The Wenatchee World (http://is.gd/wI8gq6) trees along the roadway were overloaded with snow and posed a hazard to drivers.

About 7,000 to 10,000 drivers cross Stevens Pass on a typical holiday and for much of Christmas, they had to cross the mountains on Snoqualmie and Blewett passes this year.

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Information from: The Wenatchee World, http://www.wenatcheeworld.com