Skybridge aesthetics spurs redesign work

Criticism of The Lodge At White-fish Lake's new skybridge over Wisconsin Avenue continued during the Whitefish City Council's June 7 meeting.

Lodge owners, however, say design changes are in the works and should be completed by June 20, when guests will begin checking in at the new Viking Day Lodge.

Redesign work is intended to address aesthetic concerns, said Sean Averill, one of the Lodge owners. Changes to the skybridge will include new windows, a new roof line and an arch that will run along the bottom.

"We weren't thrilled with its look either," Averill said. "We want to make it more physically attractive and not an eyesore."

Averill also said the skybridge will be open to the public. The skybridge connects to the fire stairs in both buildings, and the staircases will be open to the public. The elevator might be available for disabled people on occasions, he said.

The council heard additional comments last week. Calling the skybridge a 'single-wide in the sky," Whitefish resident Doreen Cavin asked the council if the safety of people crossing the busy state road was ever addressed. Although new windows were being installed, she said, "You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear."

Cavin also noted that no accountability seems to exist in city government, and something needs to change to stop something like the skybridge from happening again.

Three residents sent letters to the council criticizing the pedestrian overpass.

Saying she was "appalled" by what looked like "a used train car," longtime resident Patti Scruggs focused her questions on how the design was approved.

"Did the architectural committee approve such an ugly bridge?" she asked.

Gail Poth said she and her husband recently returned from a winter absence and found a "train wreck that blocks the visual beauty of our mountains."

"This is an architectural disaster with no consideration given to the natural splendor of the scenery that makes Whitefish so unique," she said.

Richard Poth said he wanted the construction to stop "before it's too late."

"The drive down Wisconsin Avenue toward Big Mountain was an unobstructed view of pure beauty," he said. "Now it is a daily reminder of how bad taste and big money spoil the riches of our land."