Thursday, March 28, 2024
45.0°F

Downtown Whitefish highway study is focus of open house

| March 4, 2020 2:00 AM

The Montana Department of Transportation is launching the Downtown Whitefish Highway Study to study all possible options for improving traffic flow downtown.

An opportunity will be provided to share information, collect feedback, and answer questions during an open house from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Whitefish City Hall.

“The community of Whitefish has worked hard to make its downtown something very special,” Bob Vosen, Missoula District administrator of the Montana Department of Transportation said in a press release. “The increasing traffic volumes in this corridor are a significant concern –both from the standpoint of preserving community character and ensuring safety for all users. Our goal at this open house is to hear from the Whitefish community regarding where to focus first and why.”

The Downtown Whitefish Highway Study is in the earliest phases of development for a potential project, which would include collaboration with the city of Whitefish. The study is slated for completion in late 2020 with a goal of finding a feasible recommendation to help alleviate traffic in downtown while maintaining the city’s unique character and supporting its growing economy. If a viable solution is identified through the study, the project will then move forward into the nomination and funding phase.

Potential areas of focus, timelines, maps and other diagrams will be available at the open house. Further information may be requested by calling 406-261-7665 during regular business hours.

Those looking for project updates may sign up for email updates by emailing courtenay@bigskypublicrelations.com. Information is also available on the project web page, https://www.mdt.mt.gov/pubinvolve/downtownwhitefish/