Aire & Calder Breach

[Orwellian]

It never ceases to amaze me that people whose expertise is in boating suddenly become experts in civil and water engineering when their boating activities are put at risk. They also have the luxury of not being liable should their solution fail.

[Up-Side-Down]

2 minutes ago, Orwellian said:

It never ceases to amaze me that people whose expertise is in boating suddenly become experts in civil and water engineering when their boating activities are put at risk. They also have the luxury of not being liable should their solution fail.

It's also very strange how they get consulted on just about every aggregate loading facility that's been put in over the last 50 years on the tidal Trent; on several occasions after some rather spectacular failures ...........

[Orwellian]

A very different category of work where I would expect there to be consultation with users.

[fanshaft]

58 minutes ago, Up-Side-Down said:

For an on-the-spot analysis of the situation see page 16 at https://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&pubid=d192940e-f732-42bc-a9d9-6fbce501da9a

 

Whilst CRT have listened carefully to John Branford's ideas they are still insisting on coffer dams, a temporary supply to Goole docks, de-watering and eyeballing the culvert. The alternative is simply to pile each side of the culvert, taking it out of commission, and pump the drainage water straight into the canal, rather than taking it via the culvert under the canal and then pumping it into the Dutch River.

 

This way the canal can be re-opened and the Leeds aggregate traffic and Rotherham oil run can continue. Then the canal can be widened out again at this point which has always been an obstacle to navigation with the failed section of culvert being right where loaded barges have to open the throttle to power round the sharp corner here. It's inevitable that the culvert is right in the firing line of rather large and powerful propellors. This, combined with the fact that when the canal was widen from 70 to 100 foot, the culvert was not lengthened now causes the problem which will remain until the culvert is taken out of service and the 'necked in' section of the navigation widened out again. This could be done with the waterway back in action once the culvert is piled off.

 

If I was living in the Fishlake area I'd certainly want CRT to be employing John Branford's strategy and generally going in for a great deal more lateral thinking! 

The reason for de-watering is to enable an inspection of the canal as I'm told it's by no means certain the culvert has failed and it could be a more major failure, of the bed for example (let's hope not). 

[Alway Swilby]

Another drone update from the  breach site

 

[Alway Swilby]

On 05/02/2021 at 09:54, Alway Swilby said:

Another drone update from the  breach site

 

Some more good drone pictures taken on Sunday 21st Feb by Mark Penn https://oleanna.co.uk/2021/02/22/pumping-out-breach-24-21st-february/

[fanshaft]

33 minutes ago, Alway Swilby said:

Some more good drone pictures taken on Sunday 21st Feb by Mark Penn https://oleanna.co.uk/2021/02/22/pumping-out-breach-24-21st-february/

Indeed the piling work was completed five days earlier than expected. It's to be hoped that pumping out won't take long and a decision can be taken as to the best method of effecting a good, permanent repair.  

[fanshaft]

On 22/02/2021 at 10:51, fanshaft said:

Indeed the piling work was completed five days earlier than expected. It's to be hoped that pumping out won't take long and a decision can be taken as to the best method of effecting a good, permanent repair.  

I understand that the area is now virtually dry and a decision on the best permanent repair will be taken by the end of this week. Initial thoughts are that there is no problem with the culvert.

regards David L

[Orwellian]

Is it all fixed now and traffic flowing freely? I suspect I know the answer.

[Alway Swilby]

1 hour ago, Orwellian said:

Is it all fixed now and traffic flowing freely? I suspect I know the answer.

Er..... no!

[Joe Bourke]

The cofferdam is still there, and is still failing, so no effective work looks imminent. Then again it's only 3 months since the breech. At least the levels on the Goole side of the breach came back up a few days ago so just about near normal. Transit for leisure craft through Goole docks is still blocked.

 

The latest pictures taken today, courtesy of Mark Penn, Drone Pilot.

[Orwellian]

Thanks for

7 hours ago, Joe Bourke said:

The cofferdam is still there, and is still failing, so no effective work looks imminent. Then again it's only 3 months since the breech. At least the levels on the Goole side of the breach came back up a few days ago so just about near normal. Transit for leisure craft through Goole docks is still blocked.

 

The latest pictures taken today, courtesy of Mark Penn, Drone Pilot.

Thanks for that. Doesn't inspire confidence does it? Has C&RT identified what caused the breach yet? 

[Alway Swilby]

22 minutes ago, Orwellian said:

Thanks for

Thanks for that. Doesn't inspire confidence does it? Has C&RT identified what caused the breach yet? 

This came in from CRT this morning:

Update on 16/03/2021:

The downstream seal of the cofferdam has been fixed temporarily with downstream water levels stabilising. A robust fix is currently being implemented to secure the seal.

Dewatering of the cofferdam is now programmed for week commencing 22^nd March with breach investigations to follow.

 

So in other words they've taken nearly 3 months to almost get two dams in place. Three months after the breach they'll de water the coffer dam, THEN they'll start to look at how the breach occurred and get together a plan on how to fix it. Note its just the plan, not starting to actually fix the breach.

[Midnight]

2 hours ago, Alway Swilby said:

This came in from CRT this morning:

Update on 16/03/2021:

 

The downstream seal of the cofferdam has been fixed temporarily with downstream water levels stabilising. A robust fix is currently being implemented to secure the seal.

 

Dewatering of the cofferdam is now programmed for week commencing 22^nd March with breach investigations to follow.

 

So in other words they've taken nearly 3 months to almost get two dams in place. Three months after the breach they'll de water the coffer dam, THEN they'll start to look at how the breach occurred and get together a plan on how to fix it. Note its just the plan, not starting to actually fix the breach.

 

What else would you expect from this bunch of light-weights? 

 

Edited March 16, 2021 by Midnight

[Orwellian]

1 hour ago, Alway Swilby said:

This came in from CRT this morning:

Update on 16/03/2021:

 

The downstream seal of the cofferdam has been fixed temporarily with downstream water levels stabilising. A robust fix is currently being implemented to secure the seal.

 

Dewatering of the cofferdam is now programmed for week commencing 22^nd March with breach investigations to follow.

 

So in other words they've taken nearly 3 months to almost get two dams in place. Three months after the breach they'll de water the coffer dam, THEN they'll start to look at how the breach occurred and get together a plan on how to fix it. Note its just the plan, not starting to actually fix the breach.

So it looks like it will be a few months yet before the navigation will be restored. This must be a threat to the gravel traffic as the recipient of it must be using another source of product, bringing it by another mode or doing without.

[fanshaft]

39 minutes ago, Orwellian said:

So it looks like it will be a few months yet before the navigation will be restored. This must be a threat to the gravel traffic as the recipient of it must be using another source of product, bringing it by another mode or doing without.

The main recipient is currently bringing marine aggregate from Tees-side (where he is based) to his Leeds operation but this is not ideal long term and wishes to return to barge haulage from Hull. That said the small scale  movements were really to 'set the scene' and the customer is happy with the general principle and looking to bring much larger tonnages up to Leeds but not until 2022.   Similarly the Rotherham customer is keen to resume barge deliveries of oil when this becomes possible as it works so well.

2 hours ago, Alway Swilby said:

This came in from CRT this morning:

Update on 16/03/2021:

 

The downstream seal of the cofferdam has been fixed temporarily with downstream water levels stabilising. A robust fix is currently being implemented to secure the seal.

 

Dewatering of the cofferdam is now programmed for week commencing 22^nd March with breach investigations to follow.

 

So in other words they've taken nearly 3 months to almost get two dams in place. Three months after the breach they'll de water the coffer dam, THEN they'll start to look at how the breach occurred and get together a plan on how to fix it. Note its just the plan, not starting to actually fix the breach.

My understanding is that the repair will begin as soon as a plan is decided,  designed and approved,  with no intermediate de-watering.

[fanshaft]

2 hours ago, Orwellian said:

Thanks for

Thanks for that. Doesn't inspire confidence does it? Has C&RT identified what caused the breach yet? 

Not possible to be certain prior to full inspection but the culvert appears to be OK.  There are several areas of weakness, sink holes etc.

10 hours ago, Joe Bourke said:

The cofferdam is still there, and is still failing, so no effective work looks imminent. Then again it's only 3 months since the breech. At least the levels on the Goole side of the breach came back up a few days ago so just about near normal. Transit for leisure craft through Goole docks is still blocked.

 

The latest pictures taken today, courtesy of Mark Penn, Drone Pilot.

 

ABP apparently informed CRT recently that transit for leisure craft through Goole docks isn't possible but a Notice to Mariners from ABP suggests that transit may be possible on request - I guess this depends on water levels and shipping.

David L 

[Alway Swilby]

7 minutes ago, fanshaft said:

My understanding is that the repair will begin as soon as a plan is decided,  designed and approved,  with no intermediate de-watering.

Yes, I thought that too.

[Dave123]

Was hoping to go this way in the summer, anyone think it likely they will reopen navigation from the new junction canal towards Leeds once they have a proper dam in place or at least sooner than the breach is repaired and navigation to and from Goole reopened? As the breach obviously isn't actually on the through route from Keadby to Leeds/Wakefield

[Midnight]

1 hour ago, Dave123 said:

Was hoping to go this way in the summer, anyone think it likely they will reopen navigation from the new junction canal towards Leeds once they have a proper dam in place or at least sooner than the breach is repaired and navigation to and from Goole reopened? As the breach obviously isn't actually on the through route from Keadby to Leeds/Wakefield

There's been talk of assisted passage although don't know why we would need assistance - just 3 feet of water will do. 

[fanshaft]

34 minutes ago, Midnight said:

There's been talk of assisted passage although don't know why we would need assistance - just 3 feet of water will do. 

I've not heard that but will ask.  I suspect that the Trust will be wanting to supervise use of Pollington and Sykehouse locks once the canal is re-opened from the new Junction round to Pollington  to ensure that both locks aren't emptied at the same time which could result in water  overtopping the west end piling and flooding the repair

site - notwithstanding the large expanse of Southfield reservoir.  But that's only a surmise.

David L

[Dave123]

Thanks! That's encouraging at least

[Alway Swilby]

Two messages came through from CRT this afternoon:

Original message:

 

From the 12th of April access through Whitley Lock will be possible twice daily at 10am and 3pm.

Boaters wishing to book passage through Whitley Lock will need to give 48 hours notice by calling 0303 040 4040, Mon-Fri between 9am-5pm.

 

You can view this notice and its map online here:
https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notice/19369/passage-through-whitley-lock-

 

Original message:

 

From the 12th April, we shall be permitting a once a day access through Pollington Lock and Sykehouse Lock at 10am daily to allow boats to transit between Pollington Lock to Sykehouse Lock.

Mooring and overnight staying along sections between Pollington and Sykehouse Locks is not currently
permitted.

Boaters wishing to book passage through Pollington Lock or Sykehouse Lock will need to give 48 hour notice by calling 0303 0404040, Mon to Fri 9am - 5pm

You can view this notice and its map online here:
https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notice/19370/daily-passage-time-for-pollington-lock-and-sykehouse-lock

[TheBiscuits]

10 minutes ago, Alway Swilby said:

From the 12th of April access through Whitley Lock will be possible twice daily at 10am and 3pm

 

 

10 minutes ago, Alway Swilby said:

 

From the 12th April, we shall be permitting a once a day access through Pollington Lock and Sykehouse Lock at 10am daily to allow boats to transit between Pollington Lock to Sykehouse Lock.

Mooring and overnight staying along sections between Pollington and Sykehouse Locks is not currently permitted.

 

Seems odd timings if you want to just get through all three locks in one journey.  Hopefully it's just badly worded.

 

@cheshire~rose have you seen these notices?  They might alter your plans again ...

 

 

[cheshire~rose]

1 minute ago, TheBiscuits said:

 

 

 

Seems odd timings if you want to just get through all three locks in one journey.  Hopefully it's just badly worded.

 

@cheshire~rose have you seen these notices?  They might alter your plans again ...

 

 

Plans? 

 

What plans?