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Major project restores section of towpath on River Stort

A £350,000 project has been completed this week to restore a 90-metre section of towpath along the River Stort in Roydon, Essex.

The work involved hammering in over 60, seven-metre long metal piles into the water from a floating crane, before using recycled soil to reshape the embankment.

It was needed because the bank supporting the towpath had been eroding, due to the high speed flow of the river on this section of the Stort.

Work was also carried out to stabilise bridge 7a by Roydon Lock, using nine-metre long anchors protruding into the ground to act as additional supports. The bridge is regularly used by boaters and people walking, cycling and running along the towpath, which is part of the Roydon Marshes loop and route to Roydon railway station.

The project took just over two months to complete.

Charles Baker, project manager, said: “The soft banking and bend in the river make this section of towpath particularly susceptible to erosion, but the improvements we've made should secure it for several decades. This is a really popular section of the Stort and a really idyllic spot, so we're really pleased to get the project completed ahead of schedule. Thanks go to all the local residents and people using the River for being so patient with us whilst we carried out the work.”

Last Edited: 03 June 2015

photo of a location on the canals
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