Crinan Canal new lock gates work completed

Scottish Canals says all planned gate replacement work along the nine-mile canal linking Ardrishaig and Crinan has now been completed.

The Crinan Canal winter works programme has been underway since October last year.

Laurie Piper, head of customer experience at Scottish Canals, said: “Since the winter break, we have lifted in the new lock gates at lock 14 and the downstream gates at locks 13 and 12.

“The final gates, downstream gates weighing nine tonnes each, were installed at lock 12 on a very wet day last week.

“The old timber cills have been removed from the chambers at locks 12, 13 and 14 - the cill is the raised ledge against which the lock gates close, and seal shut.

“The team carrying out towpath and embankment investigative works and repairs have completed leak works at Bellanoch.

“During the towpath closure, the team were also able to make proper repairs to a leak east of Crinan Bridge, which previously received a shortterm fix.”

Elsewhere, timber fendering work at Ardrishaig Pier was completed at the end of January, with the pier now back in operation.

Ms Piper continued: “At lock 14 we still have some minor excavation works to carry out. This has been noisy work, but it is nearing completion.

“We will be installing the actuators at lock 14 once the ram pits are finished.

“Cairnbaan Bridge is ready for the next step in the upgrade of its mechanical and electrical elements, and we await a final delivery of components, due towards the middle of February.

“We hope to be off site by early March, however, this will be dependent on the components’ delivery date.

“The towpath and embankment improvement works will involve temporary towpath closures. The towpath between Bellanoch and Crinan Bridge remains closed until the work site sections have been resurfaced.

“The towpath should reopen by next week, and we will post an update on the Scottish Canals Facebook, and the works update webpage, to confirm.

“The towpath and embankment works team will then be moving to the towpath downstream of Lock 5 – this is likely to be at the end of this week, or early next week.

“This work site will be a four- or five-minute walk downstream of the lock and Cairnbaan Bridge.

“We plan to keep the towpath open during these investigative works, with a member of the team accompanying pedestrians around the site.

“Cyclists will be asked to dismount to pass.

“Depending on what the investigative works find, we may be required to close the towpath temporarily to allow us to make repairs.”

Cattle on the canal towpaths remains an issue and any reports of stray cattle on the towpaths should be reported to Police Scotland, by calling 101.