Whitefish street work resumes

The next phase of downtown street reconstruction in Whitefish began Monday in the 100 block of Central Avenue.

General contractor Schellinger Construction began digging the trench for a new water line and hopes to get the line installed yet this week, according to Whitefish City Manager Chuck Stearns.

Businesses in the construction zone are open and can be accessed by the public.

The construction is scheduled for completion on June 10, but could be finished as early as May 24. The city is paying an incentive of $2,000 per day for each day the contractor completes work ahead of June 10.

The streetscape project includes reconstruction of Central Avenue and portions of First and Third streets, with widened sidewalks and other amenities aimed at making the downtown more visitor-friendly.

Construction will be done in phases in the fall and spring through spring 2012, leaving the prime tourism season of July and August construction-free for visitors.

Resort-tax revenue is being used to pay for the roughly $5.5 million project.