STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

Expect construction to begin on Ketchum’s Main Street in April.  But work to address the street’s gaping potholes won’t take place until fall, with the entire project expected to wrap up the end of October 2024.

The community supports the project being complete as quickly as possible, even if it’s done at night and Main Street has to be fully closed, said Ketchum City Administrator Jade Riley.

Ketchum officials released Main Street designs that are 90 percent complete this past week at two community gatherings. The City Council and Ketchum Urban Renewal Agency will review feedback from those two meetings at 4 p.m. today—Tuesday, Feb. 20—at Ketchum City Hall.

With Council approval, the designs will be sent out for bid for three weeks with the Council anticipated to make a final decision shortly afterwards.

Riley said the project has three goals: Improving traffic flow, offering better ADA compliance and reconstructing sidewalks while making pedestrian and bicycle improvements. Right now, there are barriers to getting across Main Street if you’re a pedestrian or bicyclist, he said.

This is also an opportunity to improve bus stops and provide art and history pieces.

Riley said the city is committed to providing customer and alley delivery access during construction. Business owners have said access needs to be clearly marked, perhaps with something like red carpet treatment.

The city also will meet with property owners on Second Street to mitigate traffic concerns when traffic is detoured along that route. There will be increased police patrols in the area and there will likely be at least one flagger, Riley said.

PROPOSED DESIGN HIGHLIGHTS:

Northbound and southbound motorists turning off Main Street onto Sun Valley Road will turn at the same time. After turning has finished, northbound and southbound motorists will proceed at the same time.

A designated turn lane will be added on 5th Street and 1st Street outside of the Argyros to alleviate the backup that occurs during the going-home commute.

A 10-foot multiuse pathway will be built from 6th Street to the Ketchum Cemetery. Plans to extend the pathway to Saddle Road will probably be deferred to 2027,  allowing the path to be installed in conjunction with an Idaho Transportation Department roadway rebuild.

The community indicated it wants modest but eye-catching art displays at both town entrances, as well as small-scale artwork, historical markers and wayfaring signs along Main Street. The city will probably commission historical plaques first.

The community also indicated it wants more bike racks, bike buttons on traffic lights with a bike box at 4th Street, a multiuse path from 6th Street to the Ketchum Cemetery and improved bike path connections at the 6th Street intersection. Bicyclists also said they prefer to stay on their bike rather than have to dismount to cross streets.

The boardwalk in front of Enoteca Restaurant will remain wooden but it will be upgraded.

The city hopes to have money to make sidewalk improvements at Second Street south of the Sun Valley Culinary Institute and along 5th Street where there is currently no sidewalk. Angle parking on Second Street would be converted to parallel parking, resulting in the loss of a couple of parking spaces.

The tradeoff to the bulbouts and additional turn lanes on Main Street is 25 fewer parking spaces, Riley said. But the bulbouts will shorten pedestrian crossings to 10 feet, improving pedestrian safety.

There will be improved sidewalk lighting with flower baskets, benches and flower planters to spruce up Main Street.

PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION

Phase 1 will start in April. Idaho Power will close southbound lanes for electrical work with interruptions at 1st and 2nd Street for two weeks.

A waterline project is expected to take four weeks and will close all lanes from 2nd to 4th street one block at a time with intersection interruptions at 2nd, 4th and Sun Valley Road.

The first of the road work will also take place at 6th Street and Warm Springs Road with three weeks of partial to full closures.

Phase 2 in May and June will involve sidewalk work from 2nd to 4th Street with one lane closed on each side to full closure at times.

Crews will spend two weeks placing bulbouts at 5th street with one lane closed around each bulbout.

During this time drainage work will be done on 5th Street, closing one lane. And there will be partial to full closure at Sun valley Road for two weeks.

Phase 3 in July and August will involve putting bulbouts and bike pedestrian improvements at River Street, 1st Street and 4th Street. One lane will be closed around each bulbout. The River Street is expected to take one week; 1st street, two, and 4th Street, 3 weeks.

Phase 4 in September and October will involve three to four weeks of roadwork with some lane reductions and full closure at times.

The multiuse pathway from 6th Street to the cemetery will be built in October, closing one lane for three weeks.

DETOURS

Construction will be detoured along Serenade and Second Avenue to 10th Street. It will be detoured along Elkhorn Road and Saddle Rod for those trying to get to Sun Valley.

WORK STOPPAGES AND MORE

Riley said the contractor may decide to work from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for four days a week to allow for weekend traffic during summer when RV traffic makes its way through Ketchum to the Stanley Basin.

Construction crews will not work May 24-27 during the Memorial Day Weekend; on July 4, from Aug. 30-Sept. 2during Wagon Days/Labor Day Weekend or from Oct. 2-6 during the Trailing of the Sheep Festival.

THE COSTS

Idaho Transportation Department has designated $7 million for the project. The City of Ketchum has set aside $1.1 million, which will primarily be used for sidewalk improvements. The Ketchum Urban Renewal Agency is expected to announce its contribution at this afternoon’s meeting.

Riley said there are three projected scenarios with expenses ranging from $8.7 million to $9.5 million. The last scenario includes sidewalk improvements near on Second Street south of the Sun Valley Culinary Institute, and at 5th Street, along with art and history installations and bus stop improvements that might have to be put on hold if the city can’t come up with the additional money.

CARE TO COMMENT?

The City of Ketchum wants to know whether you approve of the final design, the budget priorities, proposed construction phasing. Express your thoughts at surveymonkey.com/r/PMS90design.