City goes out for bid on reconstruction of Edgewood Place section

The City of Whitefish is moving ahead with plans to reconstruct Edgewood Place.

City Council recently authorized going out for bids on the project that is expected to cost $2.5 million for the first phase of the project.

The first phase includes the reconstruction of Edgewood Place from Colorado Avenue to the eastern city limits. The project will involve enhancements to driver and pedestrian safety, stormwater management improvements and water distribution system upgrades.

Public Works Director Craig Workman cautioned that while the estimate for the project is based upon other similar projects in the Flathead Valley, project costs have fluctuated considerably this year.

“It should be noted that the current bidding environment is quite volatile due to shortages in materials and labor,” he said.

The project will be paid for primarily with resort tax funds at about $1.9 million. Funding from the city’s stormwater and water funds will also contribute to the project cost.

Work is expected to occur July through October.

Previously folks living in the project area told Council they’re worried about making sure the area retains its rural character even after reconstruction.

Workman says city staff is working with the engineer and landscape architect on the project to develop a detailed landscape restoration plan to be carried out upon completion of construction. There has been about $100,000 set aside in the budget to handle the landscaping.

“We’ve met with the property owners most affected by the project in order to incorporate their wishes into the final restoration plan,” he said.

Some neighbors also asked that a planned sidewalk run the entire length of the project ending near the eastern city limits, at the direction of Council that was also added into the project.

Three-way stops have also been designed for Edgewood at the Texas and Colorado Avenue intersections to control traffic and improve pedestrian safety.

The design plan calls for Edgewood Place to be reduced to a width of 28 feet to slow traffic while also helping to maintain additional distance between the improvements and the existing homes on the north side of the road.

A 6-foot landscaped boulevard is also planned.

A new stormwater system is included in the project with capacity for future extensions up Texas Avenue.

The watermain will be upgraded on the street to help with growing demand in the neighborhood.

The reconstruction project will also include adding decorative street lights along the street.

Under the work plan for the project, the portion of Edgewood Place from Wisconsin Avenue to the eastern side of Colorado Avenue can be closed to traffic for a total of 30 days.

For the area that includes the portion of Edgewood Place from the eastern city limits to the western side of Texas Avenue the roadway must be open to two-way traffic with flaggers in place when that can’t be maintained. And the wait time with flaggers can’t be more than 10 minutes.

For the area between those two sections, the road can be closed for 90 days with alternative access to homes there.

A related second phase of the project will reconstruct Texas Avenue from Edgewood Place to its northern limit. That’s not expected to take place until 2022.