Between Bridge 3 and Bridge 4, Hurleston, Llangollen Canal

We are pleased to advise works to install the temporary pipe to the failed culvert have been successful and the dams are being removed from navigation between Bridge 3, Martins Bridge and Bridge 4, Lees Bridge on the Llangollen Canal.

Our teams are now working together to manage the water levels in the area, and we anticipate navigation will resume by tomorrow, Tuesday 27 April.

A further update will be provided tomorrow morning.

Our teams have completed their investigations, including a full clearance of the culvert and full-length CCTV Survey. We are pleased to advise a repair to the failed culvert by installing a temporary pipe is well underway between Bridge 3, Martins Bridge and Bridge 4, Lees Bridge on the Llangollen Canal.

We have chosen this method of work to allow us re-open navigation as soon as it is safe to do so, to allow our customers to enjoy the summer cruising period. Once these robust remedial works have been completed, our teams will start planning in a permanent replacement of the culvert for a later date.

Works are progressing well, and our contractors and engineers will remain onsite over the weekend with the intention to reopen navigation on Wednesday 28 April, on which a further update will be provided.

Our engineers and contractors are currently on site preparing to install the access track tomorrow and over the weekend to allow the pumps to be installed on Monday. Having reviewed the programme and methodology with the contractor, the dams will now be installed at 08:00 on Tuesday 20 April to reduce the disruption to a minimum and to allow an extra day of movement between Bridge 3, Martins Bridge and Bridge 4, Lees Bridge on the Llangollen Canal.

Please be reminded should the problem deteriorate, we may be forced to close navigation before Tuesday.

Please also note, the towpath will be closed for the duration of these works to allow for a safe working environment.

A further update will be provided by Friday 23 April.

Our engineers have been to site to assess the culvert between Bridge 3, Martins Bridge and Bridge 4, Lees Bridge on the Llangollen Canal and they have identified severe leakage into the culvert. Whilst we have managed to complete a partial survey using remote CCTV equipment, we have been unable to survey the full-length of the culvert due to it being submerged underwater. We need to complete this survey to determine the cause of the significant leakage and to see if we can implement a temporary repair or if we need to close the canal and implement a full replacement or repair of the culvert. To complete the full CCTV survey, we will be installing dams from 08:00 on Monday 19 April to allow us to dewater the canal.

However, following feedback from customers and stakeholders and with the number of closures affecting travel across the North West, we have taken the decision to delay the installation of stop planks to allow passage through the affected area until the dams are in place. The stop planks are ready to be installed should the leakage deteriorate, and our teams will continue to carry out inspections to ensure passage is safe for our customers. However, should the problem deteriorate, we may be forced to close navigation before Monday.

Once our engineers have been able to dewater this section of canal, further investigations can resume, with the intention to carry out a temporary repair over a 7 to 10 day period which will allow navigation through the summer months while we plan for a permanent repair during the winter months. However, we are unable to confirm that a temporary repair will be possible, and we may need to complete a full culvert replacement which will close the canal for a longer period of time and customers should keep this in mind when planning their journeys.

A further update will be provided by Friday 23 April.

Please be advised navigation is closed between Bridge 3, Martins Bridge and Bridge 4, Lees Bridge on the Llangollen Canal due an issue with a culvert.

Stop planks are being installed and we will be dewatering this section of canal to enable our teams to complete the necessary investigations.

An update will be provided Friday 16 April.