March 9, 2026
VIROQUA Wis. – The City of Viroqua is preparing to resume the Center Avenue reconstruction project as warmer weather approaches marking the beginning of the second and final phase of the comprehensive infrastructure overhaul. While heavy excavation by contractor Badger Environmental will not officially restart until April residents will see preliminary electrical work begin in March.
City officials released an update on March 2 outlining the immediate timeline and traffic impacts for the coming weeks. Xcel Energy crews are scheduled to complete two separate utility projects in the downtown area to prepare the corridor for the upcoming roadwork.
Sometime mid to late next week Xcel will be working on utility poles on Decker Street between Rock Avenue and Center Avenue. This work will directly impact the busy intersection of Decker Street and Main Street.
“There will be deviation of the eastbound lane of Decker flaggers will be present but traffic should continue flowing,” said city officials in the project update. “At some point during the day tentatively 11 a.m. traffic will be stopped completely on Main Street to pull wire across the street.”.
The city anticipates this complete stoppage on Main Street will last approximately two minutes and assured residents that it will not occur during the noon or after school rushes. Xcel Energy will coordinate with the Viroqua Police Department to establish detours to prevent major delays if the wire pull takes longer than expected. The city advised residents to avoid the area on the day of the work if possible.
Following the work on Decker Street Xcel crews will return the week of March 16 to relocate electrical poles along Center Avenue between Decker Street and South Street as well as on Terhune Street between Main Street and Rusk Avenue. The city noted that these are relocations with new poles and there are currently no planned power outages associated with this work.
“Xcel will notify anyone if that plan changes,” said city officials. “We are currently working on a plan for construction start in April.”.
The start of April construction will kick off Phase 2 of the 3.4 million dollar project. Badger Environmental will focus on full depth roadway reconstruction on Center Avenue from Decker Street down to South Street. The second phase also includes rebuilding one block of Court Street off Main Street and Terhune Street from Main Street to Washington Avenue.
The massive project which began in September 2025 involves replacing aging water mains sanitary sewer systems and storm sewers to resolve chronic drainage issues. The streetscape will also see significant changes above ground including ADA compliant sidewalks and a new eight foot wide asphalt multi use path on the west side of Center Avenue to support pedestrians and cyclists.
Phase 1 of the project successfully wrapped up late last fall when paving crews finished the asphalt surface on Center Avenue between Parkinson Street and Decker Street right before the winter pause.
Residents living in the active Phase 2 work zones should expect temporary driveway closures as excavation begins but crews aim to restore vehicle access by the end of each day. Mail trash and emergency vehicles will be guided through signed detours or staffed openings. During underground utility replacements water and sewer shut offs will be necessary but the city will provide 24 to 48 hours of advance notice.
The entire project including final paving striping and boulevard tree plantings is scheduled to be completed by the summer of 2026. The project is funded through a combination of state grants including a Wisconsin Department of Transportation grant and Department of Natural Resources Safe Drinking Water and Clean Water grants along with utility reserves and Tax Increment District 6 funds.
Residents looking for weekly project updates can sign up for the Center Avenue Reconstruction mailing list through the city website or by contacting City Engineer Sarah Grainger.
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