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Historic Sewer Abandon Cork Hill Park Area

City Abandoning 100+ Year Sewer in Cork Hill Park Area
Posted on 12/22/2023
City Abandoning 100+ Year Sewer in Cork Hill Park Area

12/22/23
The zigzag of the historic sewer system near Cork Hill Park is complete. All roads and sidewalks have been restored. Cork Hill Park will remain temporarily closed through the Spring. While temporary seeding has been done, other finishing touches may be needed before the park re-opens in the Spring.  

10/18/23
Work in the Cork Hill Park area to abandon the 100+-year-old infrastructure has been slow-moving, with many discoveries and adjacent improvements along the way. Farnam, between 11th and 12th, is expected to re-open the week of October 23 after sidewalk installation is complete. The park will remain closed for the near term due to work in the area, grading, and turf reestablishment needs before general public use. Work will continue on LeClaire between 12th and 13th Streets before extending to other planned locations along the zigzagging route.

07/25/23
Closures in the Cork Hill Park area have extended to LeClaire between 12th and 13th Street as work to abandon the 100+-year-old sewer continues. Farnam between 11th and 12th Streets and Cork Hill Park will remain closed for another week to two weeks as Iowa American Water Company abandons a water main. Pavement will follow water main work. The work on E 12th between Farnam and LeClaire will continue through mid-August. Watch for updates as project phases are completed and work progresses to other areas. 

07/10/23
Farnam between 11th and 12th Streets and Cork Hill Park will remain closed for approximately two to three more weeks due to the discovery of water main issues during the initial phases. Delayed sewer and pavement improvements will resume in the short term. In the meantime, the project area has extended to E 12th St from Farnam to LeClaire. The closure of this section is expected to last approximately one month, pending underground issues and weather.

05/26/23
The City is again saying out with the old with a $3 Million project to abandon an over 100-year-old sanitary sewer line in the Cork Hill/LeClaire Heights Park area. Predating some of the homes in the area, portions of the sewer have long lurked 40 to 80 FT below the surface. Over time improvements have taken laterals off of the system. This project will abandon the old and install a new line to improve the overall system.

The project will initially close Farnam between 11th and 12th Streets and Cork Hill Park on Tuesday, May 30. This initial phase will close the park for approximately one month. Zigzagging through the neighborhood, this rather complex sewer project will be phased and include trenched and trenchless sewer installation, stormwater, and pavement improvements.

In total, the project will install nearly 2,000 lineal feet of new sewer line and is estimated to be complete in early 2024. Intermittent road closures are to be expected as the project progresses.

Check out a this link to view an 1894 map of the sewer main from the David Rumsey Historic Map collection.