Council gets update on future roundabouts
By Steve Van Kooten
On July 16, the Prairie du Chien Common Council reviewed two of the city’s upcoming development projects: the installation of two roundabouts on U.S. Highway 18 and utility work for the soon-to-be demolished Blackhawk Junction Mall.
In attendance were alderpersons Andy Ringgold, Kayla Ingham, Mark Bowar, Vicki Waller, Nick Crary and Jaaren Riebe. Mayor David Hemmer, City Planner Nate Gilberts and Police Chief Kyle Teynor were also present. City Administrator Chad Abram and alderpersons Pam Kiesau and Bob Granzow were absent.
Roundabouts
Two representatives from Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) contractors attended the council meeting to provide an update on the roundabout project.
The DOT will install the roundabouts at the intersections of Wisconsin and Iowa Streets on Highway 18; they are the last intersections before entering or exiting the Prairie du Chien side of the Marquette-Joliet Bridge. The project also includes storm sewer improvements, lighting upgrades, curb ramp improvements and extensions of city utilities that extend north the intersection of Blackhawk Avenue and south of the Wisconsin Street intersection on the highway. Construction for the project will be done in three phases, with the first phase expected to begin in the summer of 2026.
The roundabouts will address safety concerns and “an increased number of crashes since the roadway was constructed in 2011.” According to the data proffered by DOT representatives, there were 51 accidents in those areas between 2018–22, with 16 reported injuries.
Jill Fehrman, project coordinator for DAAR Corporation, said the design portion of the project is approximately 60 percent complete; however, when the project team conducted the mandated environmental studies, they discovered new concerns.
“We were able to go through and identify two areas of interest that we weren’t really aware of at our public information meeting,” Fehrman said. “Our intent is not to disturb anything that is contaminated or any archaeological site of any sort.”
The contaminated area is on the southeast side of the Blackhawk Avenue intersection of Highway 18. According to Riebe, the area is a “capped” contamination site underneath the Waterfront Hotel parking lot.
Fehrman said the design team adjusted the lighting and sanitary sewer plans to avoid the hazmat site.
The second area, on the northwest side of the intersection of Wisconsin Street and the highway, is an archaeological site.
Jed Munroe, a project consultant from JT Engineering, said, “You know where there’s that Waterfront sign, and there’s a bunch of utility boxes? It’s kind of where the utilities are all at.”
“During the archaeological dig, was anything found?” Bowar asked.
“Yes, the Mississippi Valley Archaeological Center worked a lot in that area, and I think in the 1800s, a hotel was built there that burned down, was rebuilt and burned down again. So, they did find — I think about three feet down — there was foundation there,” Munroe answered.
Fehrman requested that if anyone, including the general public, had any information about either of these sites, they could contact the DOT or project team.
To submit information, contact either John Bainter at John.bainter@dot.wi.gov or Jill Fehrman at jill.fehrman@daarcorp.com. Alternatively, call 414-935-4344.
Blackhawk Junction
The council approved the city planner’s request to request bid proposals for utility work at the site of the former Blackhawk Junction Mall.
“This is part of the neighborhood investment grant, and part of the incentive for coming over there is new water and sewer lines to the businesses,” said Gilberts. “So, this is the first phase of that.”
The utility work will extend an eight-inch water main from south of Mississippi Meats under Blackhawk Junction to Blackhawk Avenue, with a new fire hydrant placed next to Blackhawk Avenue. A six-inch sanitary line will also extend under the property. Additionally, Mississippi Meats will have a two-inch water line tie-in and a six-inch sanitary tie-in from their business to the new extensions.
“If anything else that would be built north of Mississippi Meats — and also to the east — will be able to tie into that line as well,” Gilberts said.
The city acquired the property from the county in 2019. The demolition work on the northern section of the mall is scheduled for mid-September. At the moment, several businesses, including Driftless Development, Royal Bank and H & R Block, still reside in the old mall.
According to Gilberts, once the demolition work is completed, the parking lot will be redone and the utilities work will be completed.
