Traffic situation improves in Whitefish

After two weeks of major street reconstruction in downtown Whitefish, the initial gridlock has subsided and traffic flow has improved, city officials say.

The reconstruction of Second Street (U.S. 93 through Whitefish) between Spokane and Baker avenues; the reconstruction of First Street from the alley behind Casey's Bar (which was torn down recently) to Baker Avenue and construction of the new Casey's Bar culminated at the same time, creating traffic headaches for motorists.

But the worst may be over.

"I see it getting better day by day," Whitefish Chamber of Commerce Director Kevin Gartland said. "It's going as well as can be expected. The locals have figured out how to maneuver around town."

Whitefish City Manager Chuck Stearns agreed, saying he's noticed that traffic flow has improved, probably for various reasons.

"Traffic volume may be down as part of a seasonal decline, people may have found alternate routes, and signage was also improved," Stearns said.

Minor modifications have eased the situation, too, such as allowing two-way traffic on Spokane Avenue by Whitefish Middle School.

Traffic still comes to a crawl during the morning rush hour and the afternoon when the Middle School lets out, but traffic is flowing, Stearns said.

Keeping the Central Avenue crossing of Second Street open last week helped as well, Stearns said.

The pivotal intersection - U.S. 93 and Baker Avenue - could be open as early as next week, Stearns said, which will make a huge difference in handling north-south traffic.

Downtown businesses have been affected by the construction projects, Gartland said, and the impact is compounded by the post Labor Day slowdown in tourist traffic.

"I hear from the restaurants that the night-time crowds are OK, they're doing fine, but the lunch crowds are hurting," Gartland said. "For the first few days we were at a standstill."

Gartland acknowledged that all businesses in the downtown corridor have been economically pinched by the construction projects.

"For folks from out of town, it can look daunting," he said. 

Stearns and Gartland stressed that all businesses are open and access to all businesses during the hours they are open is guaranteed.

"However, access may not be as easy as in the past," Stearns said.

On a positive note, some portions of closed streets have provided "a hidden stash of parking" that otherwise wouldn't be available, Gartland said.

The chamber is putting the finishing touches on its second annual Great Northwest Oktoberfest that kicks off this weekend. Last year the inaugural event drew thousands of spectators to Whitefish.

Special signs will be erected to direct Oktoberfest participants to large lots in the vicinity of Depot Park, where the event tent will be situated. The city is opening its snow storage lot near the Middle School, which will provide up to 300 parking spaces. And there's plenty of on-street parking east of Depot Park, Gartland added.

"We're only missing about 40 parking spaces from downtown from last year" due to the construction, he said.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.