4 hours ago, Corixa said:

We have been trough it twice this morning. Scaffolding was being erected earlier, then when we returned after winding around 12:00 there was nobody there and no signs to say the navigation was closed.

Which is kind of silly, if there is a danger of vehicles coming off the road through the parapet, why are they scaffolding before installing a proper road closure. All they need are 2 x 1 tonne builders bags of sand placed centre of the carriageway either side of the bridge along with lesser barriers and warning signs and, surely, the job's a good 'un. We are still heading that way, expecting to get there Wedn esday or Thursday (depending on weather), I hope it is on one of the 'open' days

No idea whether this means the canal is physically closed or not. Which is a nuisance as that's where I'm heading...

 

Update 20 May 2026, 3:43pm
Our teams have reinstalled the barriers at Bridge 8, Nanney's Bridge, to prevent road traffic from using the bridge and have put diversion routes in place.

Initial inspections have now been completed, and the team are now on site carrying out repairs to the damaged bridge.

A further update will be provided on or before Friday, 22 May.

Just now, Arthur Marshall said:

No idea whether this means the canal is physically closed or not. Which is a nuisance as that's where I'm heading...

 

Update 20 May 2026, 3:43pm
Our teams have reinstalled the barriers at Bridge 8, Nanney's Bridge, to prevent road traffic from using the bridge and have put diversion routes in place.

Initial inspections have now been completed, and the team are now on site carrying out repairs to the damaged bridge.

A further update will be provided on or before Friday, 22 May.

Currently on the Middlewich Arm and intending to get through Nanney's Bridge tomorrow as it's only 6 miles away. I spoke to a boater coming from that direction into Wardle Lock as I passed through and her comment was,"The bridge is fine, they are working on it at the moment but the closure is just a rumour". I'll let you know tomorrow if there is any truth in this 'rumour'

On 15/05/2026 at 22:24, ditchcrawler said:

The way I read it the council had closed the road but the barriers had been removed so that traffic could cross, CRT reenforced the closure barriers that were again removed. The road has now been closed yet again. We have all seen motorists ignoring road closed signs if they think they can get by 

Yes the problem is that there are road closed sign contractors who put the road closed signs up well in advance of any roadworks, sometimes even getting sittings wrong or ignoring the roadworks timings have changed. The sensible thing would be for the repairers to be the ones to turn them the right way round when working and tuck into hedgerows when not. Even better would be a facility to alert satnav apps when roads really are shut.
 

So understandably motorists know the road is not actually closed for 75% of the time so rather than face a long detour go through. Then there’s the  question of does the road really need full closure which much of the time it doesn’t. 
 

So I guess that’s why Road closed signs are ignored. 
 

16 minutes ago, Stroudwater1 said:

Yes the problem is that there are road closed sign contractors who put the road closed signs up well in advance of any roadworks, sometimes even getting sittings wrong or ignoring the roadworks timings have changed. The sensible thing would be for the repairers to be the ones to turn them the right way round when working and tuck into hedgerows when not. Even better would be a facility to alert satnav apps when roads really are shut.
 

So understandably motorists know the road is not actually closed for 75% of the time so rather than face a long detour go through. Then there’s the  question of does the road really need full closure which much of the time it doesn’t. 
 

So I guess that’s why Road closed signs are ignored. 
 

But wasn't it closed because it was considered unsafe, not because someone may work on it at some point. I suppose its the same mentality when you see cars drowened in floods driving round the road closed sign 

As I understand it, the navigation was only closed because cars driving over the bridge were causing more damage , so if there are no cars, there should be no stoppage. I await the Vagabond's report with bated breath...

20 minutes ago, Stroudwater1 said:

Yes the problem is that there are road closed sign contractors who put the road closed signs up well in advance of any roadworks, sometimes even getting sittings wrong or ignoring the roadworks timings have changed. The sensible thing would be for the repairers to be the ones to turn them the right way round when working and tuck into hedgerows when not. Even better would be a facility to alert satnav apps when roads really are shut.
 

So understandably motorists know the road is not actually closed for 75% of the time so rather than face a long detour go through. Then there’s the  question of does the road really need full closure which much of the time it doesn’t. 
 

So I guess that’s why Road closed signs are ignored. 
 

Looking at the relevant roads on Google mapping, it isn't really a case of any 'long detour'. If someone were going from Reaseheath or Beambridge to Winsford (the closed road is Winsford Road) it would actually be quicker to via the B5074 through Church Minshull. What I suspect is happening is that people are following their Satnavs and if the route is blocked in this way think is simply easier to move the barriers. There are a variety of ways around this obstruction for a motorist which I why I said they should put a couple of 1 tonne builders bags of sand blocking the road along with the normal barriers. For boaters there is no other way around. 

19 hours ago, Arthur Marshall said:

As I understand it, the navigation was only closed because cars driving over the bridge were causing more damage , so if there are no cars, there should be no stoppage. I await the Vagabond's report with bated breath...

Passed under Nanney's Bridge (bridge 8 )lunchtime today, no issues whatsoever. There are workmen on the bridge and scaffolding, but no sign of canal closure nor any sign that there ever was. Without signage on the canal itself I don't see how it could be closed since, having spoken to a few hire/share boaters on the way down, some were totally unaware of any problem there so if there wasn't a sign telling them the navigation was closed they wouldn't know (they just rely on what the boatyard may tell them, they weren't checking the CRT website). So with a high level of confidence I'd say just 'come on down' 

Edited May 21May 21 by Wanderer Vagabond

47 minutes ago, Wanderer Vagabond said:

Passed under Nanney's Bridge (bridge 8 )lunchtime today, no issues whatsoever. There are workmen on the bridge and scaffolding, but no sign of canal closure nor any sign that there ever was. Without signage on the canal itself I don't see how it could be closed since, having spoken to a few hire/share boaters on the way down, some were totally unaware of any problem there so if there wasn't a sign telling them the navigation was closed they wouldn't know (they just rely on what the boatyard may tell them, they weren't checking the CRT website). So with a high level of confidence I'd say just 'come on down' 

Excellent. Thank you!

Just walked over to the bridge - navigation and towpath appear open but road is closed to traffic