Bridgewater Canal - Barton Aqueduct

[Liam]

BARTON AQUEDUCT CLOSURE FOR URGENT REPAIRS WEDNESDAY 8TH JANUARY 2025

 

Notice is hereby given that Barton Aqueduct (situated on the Leigh Branch of the Bridgewater Canal) will be closed to navigation during the following period for urgent repairs.

 

WEDNESDAY 8thJANUARY 2025        0830 hrs – 1800 hrs

 

Work to the Aqueduct is being carried out by The Manchester Ship Canal Company and is expected to be completed within the specified period of time. However, due to the nature of the work this cannot be guaranteed.

 

Further information concerning progress of the maintenance works can be obtained from the Company during the period of the closure.

 

The Company regrets any inconvenience that these necessary works may cause.

[frangar]

The lack of maintenance on the Bridgewater by Peel is coming home to roost it seems 

[Liam]

Managed and maintained by the Manchester Ship Canal Company because apparently it's on that rather than the Bridgewater.

Even though it gets in the way if you've a big enough boat on the Ship Canal and gets pushed out the way. 

And if you tried using it on the Bridgewater without it being there you'd end up in a hole.

Go figure.

[frangar]

3 minutes ago, Liam said:

Managed and maintained by the Manchester Ship Canal Company because apparently it's on that rather than the Bridgewater.

Even though it gets in the way if you've a big enough boat on the Ship Canal and gets pushed out the way. 

And if you tried using it on the Bridgewater without it being there you'd end up in a hole.

Go figure.

Still leads back to Peel….you only have to look at the state of the rest of swing bridges on the MSC and how often shipping is delayed due to failure of the infrastructure. 

[Cheshire cat]

There won't be shipping for much longer. There's so little dredging going on that the depth above Barton lock is insufficient (4.5 metres) to allow fully loaded ships up to Weaste. Unless the ships are near full it's not economically viable. There were 33 visits by Cargo ships last year.

[IanD]

17 minutes ago, Cheshire cat said:

There won't be shipping for much longer. There's so little dredging going on that the depth above Barton lock is insufficient (4.5 metres) to allow fully loaded ships up to Weaste. Unless the ships are near full it's not economically viable. There were 33 visits by Cargo ships last year.

That doesn't stack up with the claim made on the Bridgewater Breach thread that said Peel wouldn't let the Bridgewater close because keeping it open was tied to the MSC rights and Peel want to greatly increase the container shipping on the MSC to make more money...

[Stroudwater1]

26 minutes ago, IanD said:

That doesn't stack up with the claim made on the Bridgewater Breach thread that said Peel wouldn't let the Bridgewater close because keeping it open was tied to the MSC rights and Peel want to greatly increase the container shipping on the MSC to make more money...

 

I dont think the two statements are incompatible though, there may not be shipping Manchester way without redevelopment/ dredging for much longer. The Atlantic Gateway proposal may alter that, funding allowing....  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Gateway_(North_West_England)

 

There is still a decent amount of shipments at the oil terminal  Eastham end, ships well over 100m long and presumably deep drafted

[IanD]

2 minutes ago, Stroudwater1 said:

 

I dont think the two statements are incompatible though, there may not be shipping Manchester way without redevelopment/ dredging for much longer. The Atlantic Gateway proposal may alter that, funding allowing....  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Gateway_(North_West_England)

 

There is still a decent amount of shipments at the oil terminal  Eastham end, ships well over 100m long and presumably deep drafted

That gateway looks like old plans (2011? 2015?) which never came to fruition (were they abandoned?) -- is this really what was being referred to?

[matty40s]

Those Taylor's are letting the boating community down.

Is it cold in Winter...?

 

[frangar]

1 minute ago, matty40s said:

Those Taylor's are letting the boating community down.

Is it cold in Winter...?

 

 But they are providing more updates than peel seem able to….

[Paul C]

13 minutes ago, frangar said:

 But they are providing more updates than peel seem able to….

 

You have to feel sorry for them. I suspect, after an initial couple of weeks flurry of "Someone is going to Die!!! The canal is breached!!! Water is flowing downhill!!!!!!", being beached on the drained Bridgewater water point is going to get a bit, errr, "samey".

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

40 minutes ago, matty40s said:

Those Taylor's are letting the boating community down.

Is it cold in Winter...?

 

Cor blimey I looked at their YouTube titles,

each is a catastrophe,

 

SINKING

DEVASTATING

BIG PROBLEM

INJUSTICE

she FELL in a hole

 

this is manna from heaven for them,

a disaster seekers heaven,

 

(not that wish I them harm, I hope things work out ok,

but meantime milk it for what you can, get them subscribers)

 

[Cheshire cat]

The Atlantic Gateway proposal seems to be on its umpteenth iteration. It involves building two new wharfs at Irlam, new roads and various land swaps. Salford Council seem to be sympathetic but Warrington is against, no direct benefit and an increase in swinging of the bridges will be unpopular. If it does happen it will involve ships unloading well to the west of the M60 so not really getting as far as Manchester. 

 

I agree that there's plenty of activity at the western end of of the canal but less than one boat a week to Manchester makes maintenance difficult to justify. 

 

Those Taylors are starting to suffer. Lithium batteries down to 27% yesterday and their gennie wouldn't charge them for some reason. It's forecast to be -6C tonight so I hope they've got their winter duvets on board

[jonathanA]

Whilst appreciating the updates, I did find their "style" or lack of it somewhat grating....

 

Best watched with the sound off... 🤣

[matty40s]

Oh, NO, IT IS COLD ON A BOAT...

It looks like a stove chimney behind them? Dont they use it??

 

Let's hope they get some sun on the panels before Thursday night...

 

Edited January 7, 2025 by matty40s

[Liam]

1 hour ago, frangar said:

 But they are providing more updates than peel seem able to….

 

Not at all, those involved are all being kept well upto date.

 

The canal is now dammed to a very water tight level, the Surveyors have been down to carry out their inspections on the breach and in the mean time the cofferdam is being planned with a view to install asap.

 

Welfare checks ongoing to those around the No 3 area, with water, refuse and toilet emptying facilities being put in place and also power being sorted out too.

 

Where do you think they're getting their information from?

Edited January 7, 2025 by Liam

[ditchcrawler]

1 minute ago, Liam said:

Not at all, those involved are all being kept well upto date.

 

The canal is now dammed to a very water tight level, the Surveyors have been down to carry out their inspections on the breach and in the mean time the cofferdam is being planned with a view to install asap.

 

Welfare checks ongoing to those around the No 3 area, with water, refuse and toilet emptying facilities being put in place and also power being sorted out too.

but that doesn't make a good storey 

[jonathanA]

11 hours ago, ditchcrawler said:

but that doesn't make a good storey 

Neither do the taylors but doesn't stop them posting their videos 😂

 

But I do hope they and others affected get the help/support they need.

Edited January 8, 2025 by jonathanA
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