Despite unforgiving weather, the current phase of the Whitefish Downtown Infrastructure Improvements Project along the 100 block of Central Avenue is expected finish on schedule at the end of May or early June.
After that work is complete, Whitefish City Manager Chuck Stearns said Sandry Construction will have to repave the street along the 200 block of Central Avenue, a portion of the project completed last spring.
Stearns said the oil content of the asphalt mixture exceeded the city’s specifications, resulting in slumping and depressions along the street’s parking area.
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Workers continue construction on the second phase of downtown street reconstruction on Central Avenue in Whitefish. |
To take out the old asphalt and put in new asphalt will take three days, Stearns said, beginning on a Sunday night and finishing on Wednesday. It will be done on warranty and will not cost the city any money, Stearns said.
Schellinger Construction is heading up reconstruction of the 100 block, which is the second to last phase of the downtown improvements project. The project began in the fall of 2009 to replace antiquated infrastructure such as the main water system and to improve storm water drainage.
Central Avenue is the project’s primary focus along with Third and First streets, between Baker and Spokane avenues. In addition to infrastructure improvements, aesthetic features such as widened sidewalks are also included in the project.
The final phase along the 000 block of Central Avenue between Railway and First streets is scheduled for the fall.
On April 27, Stearns said the main water line along the 100 block had passed pressure tests after initially failing the tests because of leaks. After the tests were passed, Stearns said crews began connecting buildings on that street to the new water line.
In early April, an old sleeve for the water service line tap in front of McGough and Co. failed and caused minor flooding in multiple business basements.
As of last week, crews had already started working on storm water drainage, Stearns said. Up next is construction on the curbs, sidewalks and street.
Stearns said Schellinger Construction is aiming for an early completion date of May 24. Early completion financial incentives turn into penalties if the project isn’t finished by June 10.
To follow the street project’s progress, log on to www.downtownwhitefish.info.