Wigan Flight sinkhole

[Pie Eater]

Deliveries of clay were being made this morning presumably to fill in the sinkhole and were blocking the towpath.

 

Loads of CaRT vehicles and contractors diggers were spread out over the towpath and the nearby industrial estate.

 

It certainly looks like CaRT are attempting to get the work complete as soon as possible.

[rgreg]

I'm watching progress with this and the other issues on the L&L as I'm currently on the east side heading west (hopefully!).

[Pie Eater]

40 tonnes of clay has been used so far in the sinkhole and another 40 tonnes was being delivered this morning.I

 

I hope it is not one of the mine shafts in the area.

[Pluto]

Rose Bridge was the main colliery mining coal under Wigan flight, as this 1902 map suggests, though deep mining after this time also had a major effect. Because of subsidence, the locks were equalised on at least three occasions. In BW days, their mining engineers based at Leeds did some excellent work on identifying problem sites, though I am uncertain as to whether today's canal engineers can be bothered to check the old files.

[Pie Eater]

Contractors will be removing the scaffolding and dams over the next 2 days in preparation for the reopening of the flight on this  Saturday 22nd July.

[rgreg]

59 minutes ago, Pie Eater said:

Contractors will be removing the scaffolding and dams over the next 2 days in preparation for the reopening of the flight on this  Saturday 22nd July.

We just need Swing-Bridge 191 (Silsden) fixing next then we have a through route; apparently a part has to go to/ come from Germany. Update due on Monday.

[Pie Eater]

It was getting a bit busier this morning as boats were starting to queue in the junction pound at the bottom lock ready for the flight to open on Saturday.

 

At the top lock there are about 10 boats, some who have been there for weeks.

 

There is still one boat in the middle of the flight after a breakdown.

[IanD]

14 hours ago, rgreg said:

We just need Swing-Bridge 191 (Silsden) fixing next then we have a through route; apparently a part has to go to/ come from Germany. Update due on Monday.

 

Woo hoo -- hope it stays that way until September... 🙂

Edited July 20, 2023 by IanD

[Pluto]

3 hours ago, Pie Eater said:

It was getting a bit busier this morning as boats were starting to queue in the junction pound at the bottom lock ready for the flight to open on Saturday.

Do you mean lock 21, the bottom lock is lock 23. The junction was added five years after the flight was built. Not that I'm being pedantic.....

[rgreg]

On 19/07/2023 at 20:45, rgreg said:

We just need Swing-Bridge 191 (Silsden) fixing next then we have a through route; apparently a part has to go to/ come from Germany. Update due on Monday.

Now open (Bridge 191)

Edited July 21, 2023 by rgreg

[Pie Eater]

CaRT employees were continuing the clean-up this morning and the sinkhole pound was back in water.

 

More boats have arrived at both ends but there were 5 pounds on the flight empty or nearly empty.

[Pie Eater]

Just received confirmation from CaRT that the Wigan Flight reopens tomorrow(Saturday) .

 

The flight is open between 8.00am and 4.00pm every day but the last entry to the flight is at 12noon.I

 

Wiganflightcrew is on Facebook and volunteers are sometimes available but are not guaranteed.