Tees Barrage secrets unveiled

As part of the repairs, we held a special open day giving members of the public the chance to explore around the structure and delve 40 feet into one of the drained gate wells to see the inner workings up close.

Visitors saw the massive hydraulic rams, learnt about fish migration, got rare access into the control tower and discover more about the world-renowned white water course.

Walk on the Tees river bed

A 100 tonne crane was used to install temporary dams either side of each gate well before removing the water to inspect the gate seals, walls, floor and pivot points, as well as checking the steelwork for damage. Pressure tests were carried out on the gates and any corroded components replaced.

Lee Butler, team leader at the Tees Barrage said on the day of the event: “This is a fantastic opportunity for us to give people a rare behind the scenes look at our maintenance work and walk onto the Tees’ river bed – it’s not often you get to say that! The event is open to everyone and they’ll get to learn about how we operate it, the rich ecology in the area as well as exclusive access into the control tower and gate well.”

At the time of its construction 20 years ago, the Tees Barrage was considered the largest civil engineering project in the UK and not only controls the flow of the river but also plays a vital role in preventing the area from flooding.

Largest civil engineering project in the UK

Completion of the Tees Barrage in 1995 created an exciting new wetland sports and leisure area for Teesside. Now, visitors are seen every day windsurfing, water-skiing, white water rafting, sailing, rowing, angling and even powerboat racing.