In order to carry out the important repairs, the canal between bridges 26 and 27 will be drained of water. An 80-metre section of the canal bed will then be re-lined with a concrete liner and repairs to the wash walls will be undertaken. The work is expected to be completed by March 2020.
The towpath will be closed between bridge 26 and Clarence Mill Footbridge throughout the works with diversions in place. Access to Clarence Mill will still be available.
Darren Spann, project manager, said: “The Macclesfield Canal is a hugely popular canal used by the community every day to go for a walk or cycle along and for the thousands of boaters who visit each year."
Health and wellbeing
“Over the last few years this section of the canal has suffered with leakage which we've been monitoring. By investing this money we're not only protecting the historic fabric of the canal but ensuring that people can continue to spend time by the water which we know from research improves people's health and wellbeing.”
The 26-mile Macclesfield Canal was designed as a direct link between Manchester and the Midlands. It was one of the last narrow-gauge canals (locks 7ft wide) to be built by famous canal engineer Thomas Telford.
