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: 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.

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.

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.

Wykewell Lift Bridge

Update on 29/05/2019:
We are now in a position to be able to allow assisted passage daily between:
9am – 10am & 3pm – 4pm
To book your passage please call 03030 404040.
On weekends, please call 0800 4799947

Update on 28/05/2019:

We are now in a position to be able to allow assisted passage daily between:

9am and 10am & 3pm and 4pm

To book your passage please call 03030 404040.

Update on 08/04/2019:

We are now in a position to be able to allow assisted passage daily between 9am and 10am.

We will monitor the impact of this restriction to customers and modify timings to meet local demands when required.

To book your passage please call 03030 404040.

Update on 06/04/2019:

The bridge is now in the fully open position. It will stay like this until Monday morning, when further investigation works will take place. After this agreed times for opening the bridge will be published.

Update on 05/04/2019:

Contractors are on site and are hoping that the temporary works will be completed tomorrow (Saturday 06 April).

When this testing has been carried out CRT will then be in a position to update this notice to provide opening times for possible passage through the bridge on Sunday morning.

Update on 02/04/2019:

The fabricator has not been able to confirm a completion date but we are pushing for them to be available by the end of the week.

In preparation our contractor is mobilising a team and crane ready to install the brackets.

NAVIGATION CLOSURE (2.45pm Tuesday 19 March 2019 until further notice)

Update on 29/03/2019:

A design has been prepared for temporary brackets and the fabricator has confirmed that work has been commenced. 

CRT have not yet got a confirmed delivery date from the fabricator for the temporary brackets but will update this notice on Tuesday 2nd with further details.

Update on 21/03/2019:

Contractors were on site yesterday and a crane was used to place strops between the deck and high level beams.  The bridge has been safely lowered and the deck is now lying flat across the canal on the abutments.  

A fabrication supplier is visiting today to determine the repair solution and we will issue an update to the notice when we have further information from the Contractor.

Original message:

Part of the main bridge structure has failed.

The bridge is currently out of action and the navigation is closed.

We are currently mobilising teams to rectify this problem.

Lock 8 Wolverley Lock

Starts At: Lock 8 Wolverley Lock
Ends At: Lock 9 Debdale Lock

Update on 12/06/2019:

There is still a partial blockage in the navigation and we are monitoring the stability of the bank.

We will inspect for movement on a daily basis at approximately 8.30am.

 We are requesting if passage can be restricted through the slip between the hours of 8.30am to dusk.

 Please do not moor within 50mt either side of the slip.

Update on 03/04/2019:

For the most part the cutting has remained stable so we are increasing the opening hours to run from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm each day.  Boats will pass through unsupervised, but staff will periodically check the cutting to ensure it remains stable and safe to navigate.

Could we ask boats to kindly slow right down to tickover speed through the slipped section.

This will take effect from 9am on 4th April.

Update on 14/03/2019:

Our contractors have managed to dredge a narrow route through the slippage that will allow boats to pass through under supervision. Further works to stabilise the embankment will be undertaken by Severn Trent & Worcestershire County Council in the near future.

Although the canal is closed between Wolverley and Debdale Locks. Starting on the 14^th of March at 3.00pm the closed section will be opened for boats to pass through the slip on the following times each day, to include weekends – 9.00am to 10.00am and 2.00pm to 3.00pm. The open times will be reviewed weekly.

Please note: If any further slips occur the canal maybe temporarily closed again until further investigations have taken place.

Update on 13/03/2019:

Our contractors started to excavate this morning having reviewed the condition of the slope the previous day.

WCC attended site with the Trust and provided us with ongoing advice whilst we carefully removed material form the canal.

Our joint observations confirmed that we could continue to cautiously remove material and were able to create a small channel by late morning and start to supervise the passage boats.

A total of 80T of material was removed from the canal, which given the nature of the work, is a great achievement.

This afternoon five boats had been moved past the slip.

Two unoccupied boats are awaiting passage with our supervision as soon as the owners are contacted.

The canal remains closed whilst we assess the stability of the slope following our operations.  We remain concerned about the unsupported material at the top of the slope which includes the road itself.

Progress to fully reinstate the cutting and support to the road will be investigated by WCC.

Update on 13/03/2019:

During the course of yesterday and today our contractor has been mobilising plant to site.  Despite some very unfavourable conditions they have been able to receive all plant to site using the Lock Inn as an access point. 

They are now ready to start to carefully remove material which they will begin, weather permitting, tomorrow.  We have experienced heavy rain today, saturating and potentially weakening the exposed slope.  We are unsure how the slope will react to our excavation, but we want to give it the best chance.  So we plan to commence works with a full day ahead of us tomorrow.  This will be a critical time in the programme, and so we will update at the end of tomorrows operations hopefully with a better understanding of how successful we think we might be and how long it will take

Update on 07/03/2019:

Our contractors are going to mobilise on Monday the 11^th of March and start excavating material on Tuesday the 12th. Please be aware there is a real risk with removing the spoil from the canal because presently it might offer support to the material above it, which in turn supports the road. The works will be monitored by our own Engineers and Worcester Council Engineers and should further slippage occur the spoil excavation works may have to be halted to prevent the road being undermined.  

Further updates will follow on Tuesday the 12^th of March.

Original message:

A landslide has caused trees to fall into the canal and block navigation just above Wolverley Locks. As a result, this section of canal will be closed until we are able to remove the trees.

Starts At: Lock 14 East, Ramsden Lock
Ends At: Lock 15 East, Golcar Brook Lock

ADVICE (12noon Wednesday 3 April 2019 until further notice)

There is a sand bank in the middle of the channel due to silt washout from recent storms.

Boaters please keep to the edge of the navigation and take care when approaching the area. Signs will be onsite shortly to advise boaters.

Bridge 1c, Lms Main Line No 25

Friday 28 December 2018 until further notice

As part of the Bridge replacement works, J Murphy & Sons working on behalf of Network Rail will be have a pontoon and scaffolding system in the offside navigational channel, extending approximately 1m into the main (Towpath side) navigational channel. 

The pontoon and scaffolding will be in-situ for
the duration of the works. The main, towpath side channel will remain open with reduced width.     

Six Gates Weir – Houghton

ADVICE (Wednesday 10 April 2019 until further notice)

Please be aware the energy company EDF have temporarily installed a high voltage cable across the back water river bed at Houghton which is downstream of six gate weir. Whilst not specifically on the navigation channel, canoes and small craft may use this channel so we advise caution if proceeding.
The cable is marked with bank side tones and no weed
cutting will be possible in this area for the next six months before EDF can dig this into the river bed.

ADVICE (until further notice)

We are now entering a second year of prolonged dry weather, meaning
that rainfall has been significantly lower than average. This is likely to
result in lower than usual water levels and excessive weed and algae
growth over the coming months.

River levels
Please help to conserve water by sharing locks wherever possible, always
closing and locking (where padlocks are in use) the paddles in the v-doors,
and leaving the guillotine gate in the raised position before leaving site. The
v-doors hold the retention level in the upstream reach for navigation
purposes.

Weed growth
We regularly monitor dissolved oxygen levels (essential for aquatic life) in the
river when weed cutting. Please be aware that in certain conditions we have
to stop and allow dissolved oxygen levels to recover before continuing.

Potential for environmental incidents
Low flow, hot weather and combined low water levels can reduce the oxygen
in the watercourse and result in loss of aquatic life. Please report any
sightings of fish in distress or fish kills via our incident hotline 0800 80 70 60.

Denver Public Car Park

ADVICE (until August 2019)

Please be aware the majority of Denver public car park will be used as a
contractor’s works compound area for the Denver Little Eye Project and
the piling operations on the Ely Ouse and River Wissey. This should not
affect navigation in any way but the works will be visible both from the
river and the Denver complex. The Pump Out facility and access to the
slip way will be maintained and these facilities will not be affected.

Please approach the area with caution and follow any signage or
instructions from the onsite contractors.

Lock 23 East

ADVICE (1.30pm Sunday 28 April 2019 until further notice)

Lock 23 East Huddersfield Narrow Canal – To prevent loss of water from the lock skippers of all craft are asked to leave the lock empty and the tailgate paddles in the open position.

Denver Lock and Tidal River

RESTRICTION (Friday 3 May 2019 until further notice)

Despite silt clearance on the Tidal River in March 2019 at Denver and Salters Lode locks and with combinations of neap tides, low fluvial flows off of the Hundred Foot River, further siltation issues are affecting Denver Lock approach. Also the Tidal River for craft traversing between Denver and Salters Lode and for craft navigating the Hundred Foot and Great Ouse Tidal Rivers between Earith and Kings Lynn.
This may result in locking windows being restricted and reduced in frequency causing possible delays for boaters. In addition river users may experience difficulties with increased risk of craft grounding within the Tidal River and
whilst approaching locks / structures.
EA advise boaters to proceed with extreme caution if going onto the tidal river at present and stress the importance of making contact with the relevant lock keepers for the latest up to date tidal river information on the numbers shown below prior to departure.
 Denver Lock – Telephone: 01366 382013
 Salters Lode Lock – Telephone: 01366 382292
For further information, please contact the Environment Agency on 03708 506506 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday and ask for the Great Ouse Waterways team. In an Emergency or out of hours call our Incident Hotline: 0800 80 70 60.