Heesakker Park PC: Fox 11 Online
LITTLE CHUTE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Part of the mountain bike trail inside Heesakker Park will be inaccessible to the public due to an ongoing interceptor rehabilitation project, officials announced Wednesday.
Although a firm start date has not been determined, construction is expected to begin in the coming months to build a temporary truck access point to reach Heart of the Valley Metropolitan Sewerage District’s (HOVMSD) interceptor pipe.
As a result, a portion of the park’s mountain bike trail — between the canal bridge and the Sanitorium Road parking lot — will be a designated work zone and unsafe for public entrance. Safety fencing and signage will be placed around the closure.
“While we would prefer not to impact any public use of the park during our work, in order to complete this critical infrastructure work in a safe and financially responsible way, it’s necessary to create this access point,” said HOVMSD District Director Brian Helminger. “Project crews are focused on completing this work as safely and efficiently as possible.”
During a video inspection last year, surface corrosion was discovered in a 5.5-mile concrete pipe that carries wastewater from nearly 60,000 residents to the Heart of the Valley Metropolitan Sewerage District treatment plant in Kaukauna along the Fox River. The pipe was originally installed in 1977.
By addressing the corrosion of the pipe now, the district says it will avoid a more costly repair or replacement at a later date and will prolong the life of the pipe by an estimated 50 years.
The project is expected to officially kick off this spring and be completed in 2025.
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