VIROQUA, Wis. – The City of Viroqua issued a statement today stating that on Wednesday, April 3, the City will begin the demolition project at 202 North Main Street (old City Hall) at the Corner of State Highway 14 (Main Street) and State Highway 56 (Decker Street).
The project is expected to take up to two weeks to complete, weather dependent. To ensure the safety of pedestrians and vehicles, traffic patterns in the area will be altered. The sidewalks near the building will be closed and pedestrian traffic re-routed. Road lane closures will occur periodically depending on the areas of the building being demolished. The demolition site will
be secured and closed to the public for the duration of the project.
We ask residents and visitors to minimize their presence in the demolition area. Plan for alternative routes, as able, to reduce traffic volumes. The City of Viroqua appreciates your cooperation in keeping the area safe.
The city decided not to redevelop the building and the site mainly because of a safety issue related to a traffic light that has been repeatedly knocked down due to the tight turning radius at the corner. Demolishing the building and revamping the corner will greatly improved the safety of the intersection. You can read our previous story about that discussion and decision here.
The city had considered an offer to revamp the building but ultimately rejected that offer in favor correcting the safety issue. You can read our previous story about that discussion and decision here.
The cost of the demolition and revamping of the corner, including moving the traffic signal, has gone up from the original estimate. The current estimate for the work is around $422,000. You can read our previous story about that discussion and decision here.
The council has expressed a desire and directed city staff to explore possibilities for adding green space, outdoor art and/or historical markers/displays at the site. The city Historic Preservation Commission has designated the site, which has ties to some of the cities most significant historic figures, as an historic site.
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