A design team is asking for public input on a street project in Whitefish that will reconstruct two downtown blocks of U.S. Highway 93 from Baker to Spokane avenues.
Missoula-based WGM Group, along with city officials and others involved with the project, held a public meeting on Oct. 14 to field comments and questions from Whitefish residents. Project planners will use that input as they complete a preliminary design proposal over the next few months.
The next public meeting will be held in January.
Residents are invited to ask questions and offer suggestions by contacting WGM Group at (406) 728-4611 and asking to speak to someone about the “U.S. Highway 93/2nd Street Improvement Project.” Highway 93 and Second Street are the same road through downtown Whitefish.
Questions can also be directed to Karin Hilding, senior project engineer for the city of Whitefish, at (406) 863-2450. Additional information can be found at www.wgmgroup.com/Whitefish_2nd_Street.html.
Reconstruction of the roadway and adjacent sidewalks includes: the replacement of underground utilities, including sanitary sewer, municipal water and storm drainage; new highway signage; left turn lanes at the Spokane and Baker intersections; and new traffic signals.
Project coordinators say the improvements will improve traffic flow and pedestrian safety. Construction bidding is expected to begin in the fall of 2011.
The project is funded through a $3.5 million TIGER discretionary grant, awarded to the city of Whitefish by the U.S. Department of Transportation through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
In a separate project, crews are expected to finish refurbishing First Street between Baker Avenue and the alley east of Central Avenue later this month or by early November.
Reconstruction will begin on the 100 block of Central Avenue next spring, followed by construction on the 000 block of Central in the fall, which will be the last phase of that street project.