KAUKAUNA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The locks system in Kaukauna is now open to boat traffic for the first time in decades. The locks are part of Wisconsin state history, and those involved on the re-opening are looking forward to their future.
The locks in Kaukauna have been closed for over three decades. But now, things have changed.
“This is history in the making,” said Jeremy Cords, the CEO of Fox River Navigational System Authority.
The one mile stretch of the Fox River in Kaukauna has been inaccessible to boaters since the mid-80s. But, after years of planning, restoring, and fixing the Veterans Memorial Bridge near downtown, boaters can now travel down the river from Kaukauna all the way to Menasha.
“I’m estimating probably 25-26 miles that people will be able to navigate in a day or a long afternoon,” said Cords. “And they’ll be able to stop at any of the communities we have docking.”
The locks were originally built before Wisconsin even became a state in 1848. It was the first public works project in the state.
“This was the highway 41 of the 1840s and now it will be in use again for recreational purpose, commerce,” said Cords.
The locks are also the only fully restored locks system that is hand operated in the nation.
Mayor Tony Penterman of Kaukauna, hopes this will bring new opportunities to the city and the Fox Valley.
“It will be an economic boost for us, we’re hoping to put in some docking systems here. I would love to put a dock up so people could go down to the basement of the library and possibly get a restaurant in our city.”
The Fox River Navigational System Authority also announced the addition of a one mile trail system along the locks.
“That interpretive trail will go through some of the engineering and science behind the lock which is really pretty interesting when you start to think about the technology we have today and the that they had back when they built it and that this is still operational 170 years into the future,” said Cords.
Construction for the trail has already started. It’s slated to officially open next spring.
