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Hazelhurst Bridge restoration work began in August

We're planning to rebuild the historic Grade II Listed Hazelhurst Bridge on the mainline of the Caldon Canal, near Endon in Staffordshire.

The £2 million project to rebuild the bridge, which has been enabled by an award from the Postcode Earth Trust, thanks to funds raised by players of People's Postcode Lottery, will take approximately 12 months.

Ian Bogges, our project manager, explains:

“Unfortunately Hazelhurst Bridge was irreparably damaged in March 2020, following the dewatering of the canal upstream whilst we were repairing Hazelhurst Bottom Lock. The bridge had to be demolished for safety reasons.

“Hazelhurst Bridge provides vehicle and pedestrian access across the Caldon Canal for farmers, residents and liveaboard boaters. It also provides access for the Trust for maintenance work.

“We are now planning to rebuild the bridge and we have applied for Listed Building Consent. The new bridge's appearance would be in the spirit of the former structure, matching its former location, form, scale, and character, including using many of the original stone masonry copings.”

Map of Caldon Canal, showing Hazelhurst Bridge

Construction work will be carried out by our engineering contractor Kier. Work is planned to start in August, and completed in August 2023. Please check our notices and stoppages page, before planning your route.

Navigation closures

The canal will be closed from Monday 5 September 2022 to 6 April, some navigation restrictions will remain in place until 7 July. Please see our Stoppages and Notices page for more information.

2023. The closed section of the navigation will run from the junction with the Leek Branch (Hazelhurst Junction), running south east to Cheddleton Lock.

Throughout the works, boaters navigating the Caldon Canal from its junction with the Trent & Mersey Canal at Stoke on Trent this autumn will be able to cruise to the furthest winding hole on the Leek Branch at Leek Fields, covering a distance of 11 miles, passing through nine locks and taking around seven hours.

Towpath closures

The towpath in the vicinity of the works will be closed from 15 August 2022 to July 2023. The closed section of towpath will run from the junction with the Leek Branch (Hazlehurst Junction), running south east to Hazelhurst Aqueduct. Towpath diversion signs will be in place.

Footpath closures

The Public Right of way on the access pathway toward the bridge from Leek Old Road will also be closed for the duration of the works.

Supporting moorers

Following an agreement with the local landowner, a new temporary car park area will be created for the moorers at Hazelhurst, and a temporary pedestrian bridge has been constructed across the canal to maintain access.

For more information

You can get in touch with the team about the project by emailing: [email protected]

Please do check back on this web page for project updates.

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Last Edited: 14 July 2023

photo of a location on the canals
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