2025 Main Street Makeover

April 2025 – September 2025

During the spring/summer of 2025,  the City of Fond du Lac will implement a street resurfacing project on Main Street in Downtown Fond du Lac.

Road construction and rehabilitation projects are essential for maintaining and improving our city’s infrastructure. Pavement, sewers, and utilities don’t last forever, and once reconstruction is complete, the corridor will be construction-free for decades—ultimately benefiting Main Street business and the Fond du Lac community.

Project Outline

Throughout the Spring and Summer of 2025, the City of Fond du Lac will be implementing a mill & overlay project on Main Street from 6th Street to Merrill Street. Mill and overlay is a street maintenance technique to rejuvenate asphalt roads and provide a new, smooth road for the traveling public. The Main Street Makeover process will involve milling & removing the top 5-7” of asphalt and laying a new layer of pavement in its place, recycling as much material as possible.

During the project, designated Main Street work areas will be closed to vehicle traffic only when active pavement work is being done, and the contractor will work to keep cross traffic on Division, First, Second, and Fourth Street open as much as possible. Parking lanes will be limited when working on water lateral, fiber installs, and structure repair. All sidewalks will remain open and Main Street entrances to businesses should not be affected.

Pre-Project Structural Repairs

In late March, work will begin to complete spot repairs on curbs and gutters, drainage systems, non-compliant ADA ramps, fiber optics, sinking manhole covers, and water value boxes. Access will be impacted around the immediate work areas, only.

Project Timeline

The project will be done in two phases. Work will likely take place from approximately 7:00am to dusk, Monday – Friday, until the project is completed. The City of Fond du Lac will work to accommodate customer parking needs and loading needs during the course of the project.

Phase 1: North Main Street, 1st Street to Merrill Street

  • Anticipated to begin in late April
  • Tentative completion date of approximately June 26, 2025.

Phase 2: South Main Street, 6th Street to 1st Street

  • Work will begin immediately following the completion of Phase 1. There will be no gap in time. Start date of Phase 2 is unknown and relies on the completion of Phase 1.
  • Tentative completion date of approximately Sept. 6, 2025.

Downtown Events

The Saturday morning Farmers Markets will move to Fourth to First Street during Phase 1 and First to Division Street during Phase 2.

The Memorial Day Parade will be moved to Macy Street.

Fondue Fest, Thursday Night Markets, THELMA’s Thirteen Thursdays will continue as usual.

Sidewalks will remain open during the entire project, therefore events suchas Summer Wine Walk and the Beer & Bourbon Crawl will continue as usual.

City of Fond du Lac Resources

Downtown Business Resources

To help downtown businesses thrive throughout the project, the DFP Marketing Committee and staff have developed the following resources.

Plan For Success

We understand these projects can be disruptive to your business – but don’t panic! There are many proactive steps you can take to navigate this period successfully. By planning ahead, your business will be in a strong position to flourish once the project is complete. Let’s work together to make the best of this transition and ensure a vibrant downtown for years to come!

Main Street Makeover Toolkit

Your Guide to Thrive During the 2025 Main Street Revitalization Project

To support you through this process, DFP has created this toolkit  – an all-in-one resource offering ideas, guidance, suggestions, and best practices to help your business thrive during the Main Street Makeover.

Inside you will find useful information such as anticipated project timelines and points of contact, as well as business checklists detailing proactive steps you can take before, during, and after the project to navigate this period successfully.

Click on the graphic to view and download the toolkit now!

Other Resources and Contacts

These resources can help businesses navigate challenges, find financial assistance, and stay resilient during construction and beyond.
Stay proactive and reach out for support when needed!

Local Resources:

City of Fond du Lac: www.fdl.wi.gov/engineering/22-utility-street-project/ 

State Resources:

WI Small Business Development Center: www.wisconsinsbdc.org

WI Economic Development Corporation: www.wedc.org

Federal Resources:

U.S. Small Business Administration:  www.SBA.gov

Main Street Makeover Contacts

Project Manager: 

Mitch Leisses, 920-210-6330, mleisses@geo-logic.com

City of Fond du Lac Project Team:

Chris Johnson, 920-204-5111, cjohnson@fdl.wi.gov

Adam Schmitt, 920-539-7272, aschmitt@fdl.wi.gov

Engineering Division, 920-322-3470