Construction contract awarded for Edgewood Place project
HEIDI DESCH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 years AGO
DEPUTY EDITOR, FEATURES Heidi Desch is the Deputy Editor at the Daily Inter Lake, overseeing coverage of arts, culture, lifestyle, community, and business. Desch leads reporters in developing stories that highlight the people, traditions, and events shaping Northwest Montana, guiding content across print and digital platforms. With more than 20 years of journalism experience, including serving as managing editor of the Whitefish Pilot, Desch is a graduate of the University of Montana School of Journalism. She has received multiple Montana Newspaper Association awards, including part of the team leading the Daily Inter Lake to Best Daily Newspaper in Montana Award and the General Excellence Award in 2024 and 2025. IMPACT: Heidi’s work connects readers with stories that deepen the understanding of the community beyond daily news. | June 16, 2021 1:00 AM
City Council has approved a bid of about $1.8 million to reconstruct Edgewood Place.
Council awarded the construction contract for the project to White’s Civil Contracting.
The project 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.
The bid came in about $40,000 under the amount estimated for construction for the project, Public Works Director Craig Workman noted.
The entire estimated cost for the project, including construction and design, is $2.4 million.
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.
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. The reconstruction project will also include adding decorative street lights along the street.
Some homeowners living in the project area raised concerns about retaining the rural character of the neighborhood and the loss of mature trees along the street as a result of construction.
About $100,000 was set aside in the budget to handle the landscaping for the project.
Workman said city staff continues to work with neighbors to create a landscape restoration plan for the project.
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, according to the city.
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.
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