Staging area at Heesakker Park, part ofHeart of the Valley Metropolitan Sewerage District's Interceptor Project. (Photo courtesy: HOVMSD)
KAUKAUNA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Crews are entering the next phase of Heart of the Valley Metropolitan Sewerage District’s interceptor rehabilitation project.
During a video inspection in 2022, 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 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.
According to a news release Tuesday, work is beginning on a more publicly visible section of the project between the Lawe Street bridge and Heesakker Park in Little Chute.
A staging area has been created inside Riverside Park to allow barge access to the river. Another staging area was enacted inside Heesakker Park to assemble a bypass pipe that will be used in the river to facilitate the project.
“Crews are now shifting from mainly land-based work to river-based work. The project is progressing nicely so far,” HOVMSD Director Brian Helminger said in the release.
16% of the interceptor lining has been completed to date, with approximately 2,200 feet of pipe already lined, officials say.
After assembly and testing of the second main bypass line, crews can complete the lining of the pipe and structure rehabilitation will begin on the 5,700-foot second phase of the project.
Work on the Fox River, between the Lawe Street bridge and Heesakker Park, will continue until later this year when ice begins to form on the river. At that point, work on the project will pause.
Park guests can still expect to see a trail closure inside Heesakker Park during the last quarter of the year. This will allow work on the project to resume in early spring 2025.
“We want to thank everyone for their understanding and patience as this important work continues,” Helminger added. “We remain committed to completing this project as safely and efficiently as possible while minimizing disruptions to the community.”
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