HS2 canal bridges raised

THE two canal bridges over the Trent & Mersey Canal at Woodend Lock for the new high speed rail link will be raised to allow boat passage underneath, we have been informed.

It was quickly realised the the original bridges were only inches above the canal water level, that would have completely severed the waterway, but complaints by British Waterways, the Inland Waterways Association and individuals have brought about a slight realignment of the crossing that will give space for boats to pass underneath, by also raising the line.

Design error

The original specification is seen as a serious design error, making no allowance for navigation at the two points where the line crosses the waterway at Woodend Lock above Fradley.

The Review of Possible Refinements document stated:

'It became clear through consultation that the height of the alignment over the Trent & Mersey Canal was not enough to allow proper navigability of the canal.

'We have reviewed the vertical alignment over the canal and raised it to around five metres to enable navigable use of the canal. The adjustment would result in marginally more noise and visual impacts, although this change would affect only a small number of people.

'Given that this adjustment is a requirement for canal navigability, we recommend that this change be included in the line of route'.

Further problem

The Inland Waterways Association has stated:

'The raised height of the line will inevitably increase the visual and audible intrusion of the trains on the environment of the canal, and to say it affects only a small number of people ignores the tens of thousands of boaters and towpath walkers annually who use the canal in this area'.

But surely it cannot have it both ways—it either has the raised line to cross the canal and the noise of such, or the Trent & Mersey is stopped.

Manchester

For those wondering why the high speed line from London to Birmingham goes near Fradley, way above Birmingham, this is for a future continuation of the route to Manchester.

It is seen that this route will mean yet another crossing over the Trent & Mersey Canal near Shadehouse Lock, with the line going through the centre of Fradley Wood.

Another canal crossing by the high speed rail line is over the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal at Curdworth