Leeds and Liverpool Canal closed near Adlington

A culvert failure has closed the Leeds and Liverpool Canal between Adlington and Red Rock (between Chorley and Wigan).

Culvert 126, near Arley Bridge, was due to be re-lined in January as part of this winter's programme of repairs. However, its failure now has meant a premature closure of the canal at this point.

CRT engineers are visiting the site to assess the situation and an update will be issued on Monday 21st October.

Update, 21st October:
The canal has been drained and the towpath and canal will remain closed whilst investigations surrounding the culvert failure are ongoing. Further update shortly.
Update, 22nd October:
The stoppage planned for January 2020 to re-line the canal bed over the line of the culvert has been brought forward to start now. The canal will remain closed here until 15th November. 

Leeds and Liverpool Canal close to the affected culvert

Escape Day planned for Macclesfield Boaters (updated)

Boaters trapped by an emergency stoppage on the Macclesfield Canal will be given an opportunity to get through the stoppage on Wednesday 16th October between 11.00 am and 1.30 pm.

Passage through the site will be strictly controlled. To ensure a passage through the affected area, boaters should call CRT's North-West Customer Support team on 03030 404040.

There have been recurring problems of leakage from the canal embankment in the area around Clarence Mill and Bollington Aqueduct.

Stop planks have been inserted at Bridge 26 (Sugar Lane ) and Bridge 27 (Kerridge). These have enabled engineers to assess the severity of the current leak. As a result of their observations, the stop planks will remain in place and the leak repair programme planned for the Winter will be brought forward.

However, because a lot of boaters heading back to their home bases have been 'caught out' by the unexpected stoppage, the Canal and River Trust is to allow an escape window of 2.5 hours on 16th October.

This will be the only passage through the area until the embankment repair works are completed in March 2020. The alternative route is via the Trent and Mersey Canal, Bridgewater Canal, Rochdale Nine, Ashton Canal and Lower Peak Forest Canal.

The repairs will include a canal bed relining scheme on a 80m section of the canal between Bridges 26 and 27 along with re-building 66m of wash wall near Clarence Mill. The navigation will be dewatered. Work is expected to be completed by 13th March 2020.

Update, 14th Oct:
The Canal and River Trust has announced that, due to an overwhelming demand and limited time available to ensure safe passage, no further requests can be accepted for passage through Bollington on 16th October.

Bollington Aqueduct on the Macclesfield Canal

Rochdale Nine Closure - Work now complete

The 'Rochdale Nine' lock flight on the Rochdale Canal through Manchester is currently closed awaiting repairs to Lock 86 at Canal Street.

This follows a gate failure on 25th September. As the lock is a Grade II Listed Structure it has been necessary to obtain permission to carry out work on it. CRT's Heritage team has been advising on methods of repair.

The local authority has now allowed CRT to proceed with these emergency works whilst the Listed Building application is being processed. The CRT team will make preparations by installing pumps and a fabric dam this week. Once approval has been given for work safely to take place behind the dam, CRT will issue an update on how soon the canal is likely to be re-opened.

Update, Tue 22nd Oct:
The repairs to Lock 86 are complete. The pounds are being refilled and the Rochdale Nine is expected to re-open to navigation this afternoon.

Lock 86 of the Rochdale Canal in Manchester