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Watford Flight closed UFN GUC leicester line


frangar

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Word on the ground is that the Lock Quadrant at Lock 4 has a sink hole which is growing quickly...A friend was on one the last boats down this afternoon.....Im guessing this wont be a quick fix but hopefully Im wrong as Im hoping to go that way soon!

 

Leicester Line (Grand Union Canal)
Location: Watford Lock Flight - Grand Union Leicester Line
Starts At: Lock 1
Ends At: Lock 7

Friday 18 June 2021 until further notice

Type: Navigation Closure 
Reason: Repair


 

Original message:

 

Due to an unexpected maintenance fault with one of the lock quadrants, Watford Lock Flight is currently non operational.  The towpath that runs by the lock is also closed to visitors. 

We require our engineers to attend site and assess the full extent of the damage, which will take place on Monday.  The required repair works will then be planned in and we will have a time scale of when we aim to have the lock operational again. 

We will update the website as soon as we have more details. 

Please do not travel along this section of the navigation or use the nearby towpath, until we advise it is safe to do so. 

You can view this notice and its map online here:
https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notice/19992/watford-lock-flight-grand-union-leicester-line

 

 

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58 minutes ago, Idle Days said:

Doesn't look like it will be a quick fix as they don't intend even looking at the problem until Monday. No sense of urgency!  

 

Does CRT have its own engineers still? If it's using contractors, they won't work weekends.

I'm amazed I've got all the way round the 4 Counties without any mishaps, and only one lock paddle out of action. And not seen one single volunteer lockie!

Mind you, I've still got 12 locks to go...

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25 minutes ago, Idle Days said:

CRT only employs accountants and administrators, and they don't work weekends either. 

Just a thought, I wonder if someone remembered to tell the Vlockies that they can have a lay-in this weekend. 

You forgot the signage dept…they work 24/7 it seems. 

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Update....flight now reopen after an inspection

 

19/06/2021 09:30

We are pleased to confirm that the lock has been assessed by the engineers and now is opperational.

Lock will be operated by our volunteer lock keepers, during normal operating hours

 

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/19992-watford-lock-flight-grand-union-leicester-line

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Heres some pictures of the hole....according to the Lockies its about 15ft deep and tunnels under towards the towpath....the  lock wall at present is not bowing and boats are still transiting the lock...however the lockies are thinking it might be shut once a detailed inspection has taken place and a repair plan worked out. Top marks to be fair with the rope etc keeping the navigation open. Apparently there is water running at the bottom of the hole....I didn't fancy getting closer and finding another weak point!

 

 

 

IMG_6687.jpeg.fd849143ebadbbded96f80e0651acb72.jpegIMG_6684.jpeg.57b1fd8043cba2145bb9bbd35ee135ec.jpegIMG_6679.jpeg.17bd84543cd09861e990b37f2fb84907.jpeg

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56 minutes ago, frangar said:

Heres some pictures of the hole....according to the Lockies its about 15ft deep and tunnels under towards the towpath....the  lock wall at present is not bowing and boats are still transiting the lock...however the lockies are thinking it might be shut once a detailed inspection has taken place and a repair plan worked out. Top marks to be fair with the rope etc keeping the navigation open. Apparently there is water running at the bottom of the hole....I didn't fancy getting closer and finding another weak point!

 

 

 

IMG_6687.jpeg.fd849143ebadbbded96f80e0651acb72.jpegIMG_6684.jpeg.57b1fd8043cba2145bb9bbd35ee135ec.jpegIMG_6679.jpeg.17bd84543cd09861e990b37f2fb84907.jpeg

Wow, that's some sink hole! Just as well no one was moving the lock gate when it collapsed. 

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That has been washing away soil for months,may be years,with material from the top of the cavern falling into the void and (presumably) being washed through the brickwork into the lower pound. Eventually there is too little material to support the paving and down it goes. Could easily have happened with the additional weight of someone on top, so fortunate that does not seem to have been the case.

If the water and washed out soil is entering the canal below water level there would have been no sign what was happening - nothing to see in a routine inspection, and no preemptive action possible. One of the hazards of maintaining aging infrastructure!

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1 minute ago, JamesWoolcock said:

And how many times do you see water leaking through the brick joints of the wing walls near the bottom gates of locks?

Well this is what is likely to be  happening every time.

I have to say unusually there wasn’t any obvious leaks here…I think it’s been going into the field or out under water. 

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18 hours ago, Idle Days said:

It may not be easy to find and stop the source of the water that has been washing the soil away, probably for some time.

Water passing from the upper level to the lower will be the prime suspect.

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6 hours ago, Tacet said:

Water passing from the upper level to the lower will be the prime suspect.

Indeed.But it will be much less clear where it is leaking out of the chamber (or maybe the pound above the top gates) and where it is entering the lower pound.

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