At a special meeting on Aug. 22, the Whitefish City Council decided to award a construction contract to LHC Inc. of Kalispell for an improvements project along U.S. Highway 93/Second Street.
The street reconstruction project will focus on a two-block downtown area between Spokane and Baker avenues, with utility upgrades planned out to Lupfer Avenue. It is designed to upgrade antiquated infrastructure, increase capacity and enhance traffic flow through downtown, while improving safety and aesthetics.
The project is scheduled to begin Sept. 12 and will likely wrap up by next June, with a hiatus planned in winter. It is funded by a $3.5 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The city has also committed $85,000 in wastewater funds for additional sewer improvements.
All bids for the project came in below the engineer’s estimate. According to a report from the city’s public works department, the LHC Inc. contract is for an amount not to exceed $2,153,401.30.
Whitefish Public Works Director John Wilson said the city has recommended phasing options for the project’s timetable. He expects underground pipe work to take place in the fall before the winter break.
When work starts up again in April, Wilson said crews will focus on surface construction. Among the aesthetic features included in design plans are decorative streetlights with hanging baskets, street trees, curb extensions, benches and bike racks, which Wilson said will add to the retail experience for shoppers.
New left turn lanes and synchronized traffic lights between Spokane and Baker will “keep traffic moving efficiently,” Wilson said.
During construction there will be continuous detours, including a few weeks at the busy intersection where Baker Avenue meets Second Street.
When Whitefish was awarded the TIGER Grant last February, it was one of only two successful applications in Montana. Nationwide, only 3 percent of applications were accepted for the grant, which was funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Missoula-based WGM Group oversaw the design planning process.