Detours planned during Whitefish U.S. 93 work rebuild

Motorists can expect detours and traffic bottlenecks in downtown Whitefish during the coming weeks as the reconstruction of Second Street/U.S. 93 begins the week of Sept. 12.

The rebuilding of Second Street between Spokane and Baker avenues — paid for with a $3.5 million federal grant — will be going on simultaneously with the city’s continuing Central Avenue construction project between Railway and First streets, plus the demolition and reconstruction of Casey’s Bar.

A public meeting will be held today at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council chambers at City Hall, 402 Second St., to explain further the construction and detour plans and answer questions from the public.

There will be impacts from the detours on Karrow Avenue for people who bypass construction and on O’Brien and Lupfer avenues, First and Third Streets, Whitefish Middle School, the Railway District, and farther south on Baker Avenue.

Southbound traffic on U.S. 93 initially will be rerouted for a block on O’Brien Avenue, two blocks on Third Street and then to Baker Avenue.

Northbound traffic will rerouted onto First Street, to O’Brien Avenue and then to Second Street.

Detour routes will change throughout the project.

A temporary traffic light will be installed at the intersection of Baker Avenue and 13th Street by The Wave fitness center.

Construction on Second Street/U.S. 93 is expected to end in November and start up again next spring.