No more leaks for Spouthouse Aqueduct

Repairs to Spouthouse Aqueduct will cost £120,000 and involve specialist teams drilling 150mm to 200mm deep holes along the edge of the towpath alongside the aqueduct before injecting them with a resin. Once set, the resin should fill any small holes within the brickwork and prevent any further leaks and water seeping out from the aqueduct onto Spouthouse Lane below.

Ian Lane, principle waterway engineer from the Canal & River Trust, said: “We have been closely monitoring the problems at Spouthouse Aqueduct and have attempted a number of repairs over the years to stop it leaking.

"This is a complex project, but we believe that the works we are doing now will finally plug the leaks and help protect this 169-year old aqueduct for many years to come. Over the next few months we will closely monitor the aqueduct to make sure these repairs have been a success and that the leaks have stopped.”

Important role

Built in 1844 the Grade II Listed aqueduct carries the canal over Spouthouse Lane and forms part of the Birmingham Canal Navigations. Providing a gateway to the Black Country, the canals were a key transport route to the midlands and a hub of activity during the Industrial Revolution with many boats transporting goods such as coal and limestone. Today they are popular for boating, walking and cycling and continue to play an important role in the life and economy of the area.