Boats have returned to cruising the seven-mile Leigh Branch of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in Wigan following its closure in August caused by a burst water main.
Engineers from the Canal & River Trust worked closely with United Utilities, which owns the damaged main, to complete a bespoke repair to the canal bank between Poolstock Lock and Bamfurlong Bridge.
A bespoke repair was made to the canal bank between Poolstock Lock and Bamfurlong Bridge. PHOTO: CRT
To access the site safely, contractors installed temporary ramps allowing vehicles and heavy machinery to reach the embankment. The canal bed and bank were then excavated to expose the burst section of the water main, which forms part of the Rivington Aqueduct. This aqueduct supplies water to around 29,000 properties across the Wigan and Warrington area.
Once the main was isolated, engineers rebuilt the canal bed by lining it with approximately 300 tonnes of clay, compacted to ensure it was fully watertight. In addition, metal trench sheeting was installed along a 20-metre section of the canal wash wall to provide long-term structural stability.
Trust engineer Gareth Taylor said:
“The Leigh Branch is a short but mighty local treasure and is highly valued by boaters and local people for its nature, heritage, and for navigation. There were some unique challenges involved in this complex repair.”
Rob Moore, county business lead for water at United Utilities, added:
“Expect to see us working in the area until spring 2026.”
