Viroqua Public Works Committee discusses future Walmart intersection design, budget allocations

Dec. 17, 2025

VIROQUA, Wis. – The Viroqua Public Works Committee met Tuesday, December 16, to finalize infrastructure designs for future developments and manage year end budget allocations. The committee focused heavily on safety standards for the upcoming US Highway 14 intersection and preserving 2025 funds for street maintenance in the coming year.

Walmart Intersection Crosswalk Design

City Engineer Sarah Grainger presented the committee with design options for the pedestrian crosswalks at the future signalized intersection near Walmart, which will connect to the new Hanson Farm development. The Hanson Farm development includes a new east/west street that will connect Chicago Ave. to State Highway 14 near Walmart. The Wisconsin DOT has approved the city’s request to install a stop light at that intersection. That project is expected to take place in 2027.

Grainger told the committee the Wisconsin Department of Transportation will cover the cost of standard parallel white lines, but the city would need to pay the difference for alternative designs, such as the “block” or “piano key” pattern used elsewhere in the city.

Grainger explained that while the city has moved toward high, visibility red concrete crosswalks in the downtown district, the DOT does not permit that style at this specific type of highway intersection. She asked the committee if they wished to pay the estimated $1,200 upcharge to install the white block pattern instead of the standard lines.

“So at first I was like, oh yeah, we definitely want the block,” Grainger said. “And then I thought, you know, do we really want the block, is that something that we felt has been beneficial since we’ve made changes and have crossings and things like that?”

Committee members discussed the durability of painted blocks versus standard lines, with some noting that the painted blocks can fade quickly or become slippery.

“I will say that I first of all love the red cross box, and I’m so glad that we did that,” said Alderperson Tanja Birke. “I think it’s appropriate for downtown, and that’s why we did it that way. I don’t think we need that in a high speed area.”

Birke added that she did not feel the block pattern was necessary for this specific location. The committee ultimately directed staff to proceed with the standard parallel lines covered by the DOT funding.

Non, Lapsing Funds for Street Maintenance

The committee approved a resolution to designate $73,609.76 of unspent 2025 Public Works funds as non, lapsing, meaning the money will roll over into the 2026 budget rather than returning to the general fund.

Grainger detailed that the surplus funds were largely due to significant savings in fuel costs following the installation of a diesel tank at the city shop, as well as the deferral of specific paving projects on Chicago Avenue and East South Street. She intends to use these funds in 2026 for street maintenance materials, shop improvements, and capital equipment.

City Clerk Lori Polhamus advised the committee that a formal resolution was the best practice for tracking these restricted funds for auditors.

The committee voted to recommend the resolution to the Common Council.

Equipment and Construction Updates

The committee approved the purchase of a new sander for the department’s pickup truck to assist with plowing alleys and parking lots. The cost for the equipment was approved at $10,850.

Grainger provided updates on the ongoing remediation work at the old city landfill and the infrastructure installation at the Hanson Farm development. She noted that crews are currently navigating complex soil conditions, specifically sand seams that require clay barriers to prevent gas migration.

“We don’t want anything to happen is when we hit those sand layers, we don’t want gas to be migrating off into that Hanson property area,” Grainger said. “So we’ve been working on trying to figure out, like, how we’re going to what we’re going to do now, so that we don’t have to go back in later.”

Lead Service Line Inventory

Grainger alerted the committee that the city is required by the EPA to send out notification letters by December 31 to residents with water service lines listed as “galvanized” or “unknown.” She noted that while Viroqua does not have known lead service lines, the federally mandated language in the letters can be alarming to residents.

“The letters are scripted by the EPA very specifically to detail some information, and it was very alarming to some people to receive it last year,” Grainger said. “They weren’t sure they could drink their water anymore, and so we are required to have that language in we’ve kind of tried to make things have a better explanation for the situation.”

Grainger stated that staff is prepared to answer questions from residents regarding their specific service line status.