Stoppages & Restrictions Listings

Lincoln Eastern Bypass

ADVICE (Monday 25 June 2018 until Monday 30 March 2020)

Contractors (Galliford Try) are undertaking construction of a new bypass around Lincoln for the next two years.

All boat traffic should take caution when passing and abide by the contractors’ advice, this may result in delay of no longer than 15-20 minutes.

Please slow down when approaching bridge and be prepared to stop if requested.

Delays not exceeding 15-20 minutes.

Starts At: Lock 1
Ends At: Lock 16

Update on 06/02/2019:

Unfortunately, whilst the works at Marple Lock 11 have been progressing steadily throughout the winter so far, they are a few weeks behind our original intended schedule.

It is now planned to re-open the canal to boats by close of play on Friday 24^th May 2019. Delays have been encountered in the piling phase of the works, with the augering of the ground and reinforced concrete pile installation behind the existing lock walls proving slower than expected, as well as having to address some design changes due to site constraints. However, the piling is now complete, ensuring the ground is stable so that the failed lock walls can be carefully dismantled.

Given the progression of the works to date, at this stage we now have more certainty regarding the expected duration of the next phase; take-down of both lock walls, followed by their re-building back to the correct alignment. This is complex and time consuming, as the walls are being re-constructed like-for-like, in order to comply with heritage requirements.  Lock 11 is a Grade II Listed structure.

Update on 22/08/2018:

Due to further movement of the chamber wall at Marple Lock 11, the lock is now too narrow for boats to fit through safely. As such, the Marple Lock Flight is unfortunately closed to navigation.

We have considered repeating the jacking operation to the lock walls to try and get a couple of additional weeks of navigation. However, we have dismissed this option as this would likely take around 2 weeks to complete and would coincide with the date the Marple and Bosley flights are closed to preserve water on the Upper Peak Forest and Macclesfield Canal sections.

We appreciate this is very frustrating for our customers and we are sorry for the inconvenience this causes. Our teams are busy planning the re-building of the lock walls and the flight will remain closed until this is complete.

The works to re-build the lock are currently anticipated to take place from November 2018 to March 2019. Given its depth and location, this is an extremely complex operation. Concrete retaining structures will be installed first on either side of the chamber, and the walls will then be carefully taken down to base level. They will then be re-built to the original alignment to reinstate suitable width to the lock, with the retaining structures behind providing the necessary ground support to prevent future movement of the reconstructed walls.

Thorough site investigation works have now been completed, including boreholes to confirm the ground conditions, trial pits to establish the location of the wall buttresses and coring of the lock walls themselves to identify their exact depth.  All of this was necessary to be able to confirm a detailed design for the repair solution, the works for which are ongoing.  Following this, the proposed repairs will have to go through a consent process with the lock being a Grade II listed structure and valued heritage asset, before the works on site will be able to commence.

NAVIGATION CLOSURE (5pm Monday 23 July 2018 until further notice)

Due to further movement of the chamber wall at Marple Lock 11, the lock is now too narrow for boats to fit through safely.  As such, the Marple Lock Flight is closed to navigation.

CRT have considered repeating the jacking operation to the lock walls to try and get a couple of additional weeks of navigation. However we have dismissed this option as this would likely take around 2 weeks to complete and would coincide with the date we have decided to close the Marple and Bosley Flights to preserve water on the Upper Peak Forest and Macclesfield Canal sections.

We appreciate this is very frustrating for our customers and we are sorry for the inconvenience this causes. Our teams are busy planning to complete the re-building of the lock walls and the Flight will remain closed until this is complete. We will be able to provide an update on the proposed timescales as soon as they are available.

Starts At: Bridge 94, Minsull Street Bridge
Ends At: Bridge 95, Chorlton Street Bridge
Up Stream Winding Hole: Dale Street
Down Stream Winding Hole: Castlefield Basin below lock 92 (Bridgewater Canal)

RESTRICTION (until 5pm Sunday 1 September 2019)

Our third party contractors will be installing and using a temporary scaffold at lock 86. The lock will remain open for use but there may be short delays during installation and removal of the scaffold.

Other ongoing construction work between bridges 94 and 95 will not directly affect the canal.

All boat traffic should slow down, approach with caution and be prepared to stop if requested.  Short delays up to 10/15 minutes may be necessary for contractors to move out of the way. Banksmen and warning signs will be in place.

Lock 2 Gloucester Lock

Update on 08/04/2019:

Despite some unexpected issues with some fixings over the weekend, the site team have progressed well. The stop plank installation and fish rescue are still on track for the end of this week.

Update on 15/03/2019:

Divers have been working in difficult circumstances to clear the silt and obstructions around the lower lock gates. This work will continue next week. At the same time the detailed survey has commenced.

The high tides expected on the River Severn next week will potentially delay this work due to safety concerns.

We expect to begin installation of the dams, mentioned in our previous update, on the w/c 25 March.

Update on 08/03/2019:

Following difficulty encountered in achieving a safe environment to repair the lock, CRT have now have a solution to making the lock water-tight.

On Tuesday next week (12/03/2019) divers will be used to remove existing obstructions and silt from around the lock gates. This will allow us to complete a detailed underwater survey which in turn will enable our engineers to design a dam that can be installed below the lock. We expect this clearance and design work to enable us to begin installation of the dams on the w/c 25 March. From this point we will be in a position to assess the length of time the repairs will take.

Update on 18/02/2019:

The new high capacity pumps have now been installed at the lock and successfully tested.

The diving team have been able to start work on repairing the leaks in the cill preparatory to dewatering the lock, however the high tides expected on the River Severn this week will delay this work due to safety concerns and the risk to the work boats on site.

Update on 08/02/2019:

Update –

Regrettably de-watering Gloucester Lock has continued to prove challenging this week due to the amount of water flowing through the leaks.

Different pumps have been ordered to counteract this issue and we will be ready to de-water the lock next Wednesday 13th February. Meanwhile we are continuing to finalise our preparations so that when the equipment arrives we can start work immediately.  

We will report next week on any further progress, but out timeline for completion is still uncertain and still possibly reaching beyond 18^th February.

Update on 01/02/2019:

Despite CRT’s best efforts this week, they have been unable to dewater Gloucester Lock due to the high rate of inflow of water from both the top end (top gate/paddles) and the bottom end of the safety gate.

So next week CRT are going to improve the water tightness at both ends with the intent to facilitate dewatering the lock and effecting repairs to the cills. They expect to be able to start this by 11^th February. Regrettably this may mean the stoppage extending beyond w/c 18^th February.

Update on 23/01/2019:

Update – The work to address the problem at Gloucester Lock is due to commence on 28th January when it will be dewatered and the extent of the remedial work required will be established.

To facilitate this emergency work we have diverted resources from the planned work at Holt Lock which will now be deferred to a later date.

It is anticipated that the work at Gloucester Lock will be completed by 15th February, however, this timeline does depend on what our Direct Services Team find on the 28th January.

We will keep you informed of any updates as they occur. Please take this closure into account when planning your journey.

For further information or advice, please contact the Gloucester Dock Office on 01452 318012 or at enquiries.southwalessevern@canalrivertrust.org.uk.

NAVIGATION CLOSURE (10am Tuesday 15 January 2019 until further notice)

Original message:

Please be advised that Gloucester Lock is currently closed until further notice for customer safety. A severe leak under the lock has made control over the water levels in the lock impossible, putting an excessive load on the top gates and making passage unsafe.

Bridge 109 – Upperton Road Bridge

ADVICE (Until 5pm Sunday 5 May 2019)

Contractors working on behalf of Leicester City Council shall be carrying out repairs to one of the parapets of the bridge. Scaffolding shall be suspended from the bridge however this should not impact the passage of either pedestrian or boating traffic.  

As mentioned, the scaffolding should not impact pedestrian or boating traffic, but please follow any advice that may be given when passing site.

Hills Bridge, Biddings Lane

TOWPATH CLOSURE (8am Tuesday 12 February 2019 until further notice)

A 3rd party towpath wall on the southern side of Hills Bridge, Biddings Lane Coseley is on the verge of collapse across what is a very narrow section of towpath. We are doing everything possible to ensure the owner remedies the situation as soon as possible, but in the meantime, we have no option other than to close the towpath. The navigation remains open.

Tyrley Service Station

ADVICE (3pm Friday 15 February 2019 until further notice)

The water supply for Tyrley is supplied by a bore hole owned by a local farmer.

The borehole has been running low for some time and it has now all but dried up so there’s no water. 

CRT are in discussions with the local farmer who owns the bore hole with regards to connecting the building up to mains water.  These discussions are on going and they are reviewing the proposals.

The nearest facilities are at Market Drayton Sanitory Station.

Downstream of Wadenhoe Lock

ADVICE (Thursday 28 February 2019 until further notice)

Please be aware there is a shoal approximately 90m downstream of Wadenhoe Lock.

Boaters are advised to keep to the centre of the navigation channel when departing / approaching
the lock for at least 100m downstream of the lock.

The affected area will be buoyed off in due course.

Saltersford Large Lock
Up Stream Winding Hole: River Weaver
Down Stream Winding Hole: River Weaver

NAVIGATION CLOSURE (until 4pm Friday 17 May 2019)

Update on 01/04/2019:

Unfortunately the works at Saltersford Lock have encountered further delays since our last update, but we have now found a solution to the issues preventing a seal on the downstream stop planks. The lock has now been pumped down allowing us to fully inspect the structure and commence the repairs urgently needed to the cill and gates. We apologise that our revised date for re-opening the navigation to customers has been pushed out to 17^th May 2019.

Dewatering the lock has been a huge challenge for our operatives, requiring installation of 9 separate large blanking plates, 6 props across the lock chamber, top and bottom stop planks and repairs to a damaged downstream cill, all of which have been done underwater by divers to facilitate pumping the water out. Having reached this stage of the project, we need to be able to take this opportunity to return the lock to an operable condition. The scale of problems we have experienced have been unforeseen, but nonetheless reflect the complexity of dewatering a large river lock of deteriorated condition.

Update on 06/03/2019:

Unfortunately the works at Saltersford Lock have encountered unforeseen problems with its structural condition during the dewatering phase. This has resulted in a delay to the project, and the earliest date when we hope to be able to re-open the navigation to customers is now by close of play on 18^th April 2019.

All preparatory works are being carried out underwater by divers, so there are obvious complexities associated with this.  The floor on the downstream approach to the lock has been found to be badly damaged and this is currently preventing installation of the downstream stop planks until a solution is implemented.  Urgent works are ongoing to try and resolve this issue in order that the lock can be dewatered, thoroughly inspected and repaired as necessary in order to facilitate its future operable condition. 

CRT are progressing the dewatering (and subsequent repairs) as soon as they can.

Original message:

Gloucester Docks 48 Hour – S1 Mooring

ADVICE (10am Tuesday 12 March 2019 until further notice)

Original message:

For enquiries regarding the repairs to Gloucester Lock please see the notice here –

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notice/14486/gloucester-lock

Starts At: Culvert
Ends At: Bridge 82A, Childs Way (H6)

TOWPATH CLOSURE (until Friday 19 April 2019)

Update on 12/03/2019:

An extension to the current towpath closure at the location is required for Crest Nicholson’s contractors to complete the bridge approach and footpath works for the newly installed Campbell Park Development canal footbridge and Newlands marina entrance.

The canal towpath at this section will remain closed and the current diversion still in place for the duration of the works.

The canal navigation will remain unaffected by the works.

Slaithwaite Sanitary Station

Update on 19/03/2019:

A blockage has been found between the pump out cabin and the facilities building which requires excavation work before a repair can be completed.

Unfortunately, currently CRT are not in a position to be able to carry out this work.

The facility for cassettes is in full working order.

The nearest pump out facilities are at lock 23W going towards Manchester or Aspley Marina below Lock 1E heading to Huddersfield.