Scottish canals work updates
THE Crinan Canal has fully reopened for transit. There are substant ial works planned for this coming winter, including the final stages of installing customer Wi- Fi in Crinan, work on Crinan harbour and locks 14–15.
On the Caledonian, replacing the lock gates at Cullochy Lock have taken longer than originally estimated, with signi f icant challenges due to the remote location, difficult water control and the difficulty of installing modern infrastructure into the 200-year-old lock structure. The canal is currently open for local navigation either side of Cullochy Lock, with sea-to-sea transit due to reopen from May 20.
Cullochy has been the scene of drama in the past. Defects in its original construction led to a partial collapse of Corpach locks and the canal bank at Cullochy, closing the canal between 1843-49 while repairs were made by James Walker, Scottish engineer and friend of Thomas Telford.
In March 2015, heavy rain and melting snow caused flooding and the collapse of a weir at Cullochy, washing away more than half the structure and creating a major breach in the canal itself. A temporary rock dam was built to stem the flow of water, more than 20 tonnes per second at its worst, before the canal bank was rebuilt.
Weed cutting continues on the Lowland Canals. A recent User Forum meeting saw everyone looking forward to the bicentenary flotilla and a more normal season post-Covid. Scottish Canals is working with boaters to address concerns about antisocial behaviour in localised places along the canals.
On the Forth & Clyde Canal, boaters can travel beneath the new Stockingfield Bridge, which will be officially opened in October this year. Scottish Canals is continuing to review lock gates along the canal and plan for their replacement.
Significant investment is needed to catch up with the historical backlog of work and address the fact that some of the Millennium Link infrastructure is now coming towards the end of its life. On the Union Canal there has been a lot of work on weirs, culverts and embankments.
The pricing review for residential, leisure and business boaters has been concluded. Scottish Canals worked closely with Scottish Waterways for All on the review and to create a new customer charter and boater facility improvement plan.