Whitefish’s recently completed downtown

reconstruction project has been named the best urban project of

2011 by the Montana Contractors’ Association. An award was

presented to the city of Whitefish and the engineering firm, Robert

Peccia and Associates, Jan. 12 at the association’s conference in

Big Sky.

The sometimes controversial, three-year

downtown project included the reconstrction of three blocks of

Central Avenue, four blocks of First and Third streets, and the

addition of a new parking lot at the corner of Second Street and

Spokane Avenue. The reconstruction began in May of 2009, while

planning dates back to the adoption of the Downtown Master Plan

between 2003-06.

New and wider sidewalks were installed

on Central Avenue, intersections were reconfigured with bulb-outs,

landscaping with irrigation was installed, and new street lighting,

benches and bicycle racks were added.

Underground infrastructure was replaced

and some overhead powerlines were placed underground.

The total cost of the project was about

$4.9 million. Eighty-five percent was paid for with Whitefish’s

two-percent resort tax fund, with the remainder paid for with tax

incriment money.

All phases of the project were

completed ahead of schedule and under budget, city manager Chuck

Stearns notes.

Stearns credited contractors

Schellinger Construction Company and Sandry Construction Company.

Other important partners he noted include city council, former city

manager Gary Marks, The Heart of Whitefish, the citizens’ Downtown

Infrastructure Improvements Committee, city staff, all of the

affected downtown merchants who bore the brunt of the construction

impacts and consultants George Crandall and Don Arambula.

“This award is a testament to the

collaborative planning and construction efforts of all the

aforementioned parties,” Stearns said.