Detour route switches for Whitefish project

The intersection of Baker Avenue and Second Street in Whitefish is expected to open for through traffic by Monday or sooner as work progresses on the U.S. 93 rebuild through downtown Whitefish.

Once that main intersection is open, First Street throughout downtown revert to two-way traffic and all detours west of Baker Avenue will end, according a traffic update from Whitefish City Manager Chuck Stearns.

The roads west of Baker Avenue, including the Railway District, all will return to normal two-way traffic and parking configuration.

Because all U.S. 93 traffic will flow through the Baker Avenue-Second Street intersection, the new detour in October may cause some traffic backups at Baker Avenue and 13th Street by The Wave fitness center, Stearns cautioned.

 A copy of the October detour map can be found on the city’s website at http://www.whitefish.govoffice.com/

There will be some upcoming closures of the intersection at Central Avenue and Second Street as construction moves through that area. There likely will be a half-day closure today and then other closures next week after the Baker-Second Street intersection is open.

The rebuild of the north end of Central Avenue is progressing well, Stearns said. Crews are ahead of schedule and aim to finish that project by Oct. 22, well ahead of the scheduled completion date of Nov. 11.

Underground utility work at the intersection of Central Avenue and Railway Street should wrap up this week. Next week the pouring of concrete sidewalks, curbs, gutters, and pans will begin. Vibrating compaction with the roller also may begin next week, Stearns added.