Common Council informs truckers of alternative routes on St. Feriole Island

By Melissa R. Collum

At the March 7 Prairie du Chien Common Council meeting the Council, in a unanimous vote, approved the map and new route for trucks on St. Feriole Island. Additional discussion noted that the City and local law enforcement will start to informing commercial truckers about the route changes that will take place on St. Feriole Island. This notification will take place with handing out flies and maps to truckers and businesses that use the truck routes on the Island. It is important to
In 2021 the City was awarded a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation Harbors and Waterways to upgrade the Harbor Access Road. This also includes the loop connecting back to the Harbor Road.
In a 1995 Memorandum of Agreement with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, the WSOR Railroad, Prairie Sand & Gravel, the National Parks Service, and the Iowa and Wisconsin Historic Preservation Officers lists specific improvements to be made to the harbor, rail, and streets on the Island.
There are two major parts to the 1995 Memorandum. First, that access to the “Harbor Access Road” be constructed and that all vehicular traffic associated with Prairie Sand & Gravel and other industrial harbor facilities on the Island shall use the Harbor Access Road.
Second, that use of the “Harbor Access Road” eliminates, except in special circumstances, the use of the Villa Louis Road, thus quelling the negative impact on the Villa Louis Historic Site.
Starting April 1, 2023 truck traffic to the Commercial Harbor - Gavilon Grain Terminal will not longer be able to use the Villa Louis Road to enter or exit the Harbor Terminal. The truck routes that are denoted on the map will be permanent.
According to Prairie du Chien Chief of Police Kyle Teynor, the directions given to his staff is there will “be a significant amount time of warnings until citation enforcement begins. However, citations could begin at anytime from the time the ordinance is posted.” Teynor noted that he felt that May 1st would be a date that he would encourage  staff to begin citing when appropriate. This would be one month to the day the City is implementing the notice.
In the flier being distributed to the truckers and businesses is a reminder that the posted speed limits on St. Feriole Island are 25 mph and that the use of “Jake” brakes in Prairie du Chien is prohibited.
Fliers can be obtained at City Hall.