April 7 public meeting to detail PdC’s stormwater project plans
This graphic shows the parameters of the Godden Pit stormwater project, from the retaining pond to Marquette Road where it will connect with existing main.
This graphic outlines the street extension and utility improvements planned for the Vena Court location at the Gateway Business Park on Prairie du Chien’s north end.
Spring construction will involve 10-day closure, detour of Marquette Road at Taylor Street
By Correne Martin
Prairie du Chien is planning two major spring and summer infrastructure projects to improve stormwater capacity across the city. A public information meeting is planned Wednesday, April 7, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, and neighbors are being notified.
Work is anticipated to begin this summer and be completed this year.
First, a stormwater outlet from Godden Pit, under Taylor Street, to connecting storm sewer at Marquette Road is one project aimed to start by late April or early May, according to City Administrator Chad Abram. It’s expected that the work will be bid out soon and then a contractor will be chosen.
There will be a period of about 10-12 days near the beginning of the project where Marquette Road will be closed at Taylor Street (by Tiller Furniture) for underground work, linking the new storm sewer to the existing main. This will require a short detour to Dousman Street and around, rerouting traffic while construction is being completed.
“It will follow the same detour we used for the Marquette Road project (in 2018),” Abram said. ‘There is going to be some additional storm sewer positioned from Ohio Street to Marquette Road and some more catch basins to help alleviate major rain events. It will especially be good infrastructure for places like the high school, [Gundersen] clinic and [Garrity] funeral home.”
Second, a Gateway Business Park expansion and Campbell Coulee Creek improvements are scheduled this summer. Abram said this project includes Vena Court and Antoine Way street extensions to create additional building sites within the business park. The street extensions include sanitary sewer, water main, and storm sewer extensions to serve the lots.
Abram said the city is attracting developer interest in those business park lots, and the work will only facilitate such economic development further.
“Extending Vena Court to Antoine Way will allow drivers direct access off Highway 18 from what is now a cul-de-sac (home to Dyesport, BoxLogix and Moto Race Tire),” he explained.
The project work also includes improvements to the Campbell Coulee Creek to widen and smooth the creek basin. This is intended to increase stormwater capacity from Highway 35 to the Mississippi River.
“With the flash flooding that occurred in 2019 and the fact that storms are increasing in intensity, duration and frequency, the primary objective of these effort is to increase the resiliency of the city in facing these flooding events,” a city news release stated. “The planned projects are part of the city’s longterm strategy to address the flooding problems within the city.”
The city will host a public information meeting to review these expansion projects Wednesday, April 7, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall council chambers or online. Maps and descriptions of each project component will be provided.
A Zoom meeting will be offered and available at the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81709411450. (Just type the link in a web browser to be placed in the “waiting room” to join the meeting.) If in-person participation is desired, concerned citizens are invited to attend in the council chambers, while observing COVID-19 health and safety protocol.
Representatives from the city and Vierbicher Associates, the city’s consultant, will be in attendance.
The city received a $1.4 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) for the two projects. The city’s responsibility is 20 percent of the project costs.
For more information or accommodations, contact Abram at 326-6406 or cabram@prairieduchien-wi.gov.
Villa Louis Road project
An additional public information meeting will be offered Thursday, April 8, at 5:30 p.m. regarding the 2023 Villa Louis Road project. The meeting is only available online via Zoom.
Though there are fewer parties directly impacted by this construction project, the Villa Louis Historic Site will be affected and the city and Villa administration will be meeting to discuss plans.
The public is invited to view, ask questions and make comments.
