Still another culvert failure

WITH one culvert repaired and just two to go it seemed that the problem of failed culverts was being mastered, but there has been yet another culvert failure, again on the Shropshire Union Canal.

Again it is on the section between Chester and Ellesmere Port, with the first failure near Ellesmere Port causing all the culverts along what was formerly the Chester Canal to be closely examined, Keith Gudgin reports.

Defective

A culvert just a short distance from the failed one at Bridge 135, at Bridge 133 (pictured) was found to be defective, with Canal & River Trust having now installed two more fabric dams at the new location to isolate the culvert, allowing work to progress at both locations simultaneously thus reducing the time needed to complete the works, and possibly having the waterway open in time for the Christmas holiday period.

We are told the work at the first of the failures at Bridge 135 at Little Stanney has progressed very well with the bed of the canal removed to get direct access to the culvert so it can be repaired.  Within the next two weeks it is hoped a definite date for completion of work on the two culverts can be given.

In the meantime pumps are still being employed to maintain the water level on the section to Ellesmere Port.