Crinan Canal Planned Winter Works 2023/24

Crinan Canal planned winter works programme 2023/24 - Update 6th December 2023

We’re delighted with the recent progress on site, with our over-lock crane platform performing well. If you missed our previous updates, we developed this innovative platform over the last year in partnership with Mackenzie Construction and with support from our partners Argyll and Bute Council, to significantly reduce the need for road closures at Crinan. 

This new method of working has also allowed the works programme to be shortened, with a planned canal reopening date of 12 April 2024, a month earlier than originally anticipated. We’re pleased to confirm that the winter works remain on schedule.

What have we been doing? 

We have now completed the stop plank dam downstream of lock 15, the Crinan sea lock, working with a dive team and using the crane on the over-lock platform. After installing a sealing plate across the bottom, we lifted the planks into place, fitting them into the stop plank grooves in the canal walls to create a dam.

We then met another project milestone, lifting out both sets of old lock 15 gates. The timber upper gates are smaller and lighter (still weighing around 8 tonnes each, and around 4.2m by 5m in size), and we lifted these out first. The steel downstream gates are larger and heavier, around 4.2m by 8m in size and weighing around 12 tonnes each. This made the lifting operation more complex, requiring a tandem crane lift with a second crane assisting the over-lock crane.

We hope to reuse the old gates, and we have already moved the lower/downstream gates to storage in Ardrishaig while we assess their condition. Wherever possible, we are trying to minimise disruption in the local area, so with the help of the Crinan Canal operations and maintenance teams, we transported the gates from Crinan to Ardrishaig via the canal.

Following the gate lifts, we began draining Crinan Basin to a level suitable for the fish relocation works, which successfully took place from Monday to Thursday the week before last. The specialist team from APEM used fyke nets (tubular fish traps) to catch over 100 fish and crabs from the basin. Species included flounder, grey mullet, eels, four-bearded rockling, pollock, and green shore crabs.

Pedestrian access via lock 14

We have now installed a temporary bridge over lock 14; pedestrian access is now via the bridge rather than over the lock gates.

Crinan Basin remains fenced off for the duration of the works programme, to ensure safety for the duration of the works. Additional safety fencing will be installed around the edge of the basin before we begin dewatering.

Fish relocation drop-in afternoon

We were delighted to welcome the local community to the Egg Shed at the end of November to learn more about the wildlife found in and along the canal, with the upper classes from Ardrishaig Primary School joining us, too.

It was fantastic to see the enthusiasm for learning about the unique habitat the canal provides, with Scottish Canals’ environmental scientist Julia Johnstone and Heart of Argyll Wildlife ranger Pete Creech providing interactive activities.

The APEM fish relocation specialists explained more about the fish and crabs living in the canal, and visitors were able to get up close to see some of the fish caught just that morning, on their way to be released.

Engineers from Scottish Canals and contractors Mackenzie Construction were also on hand throughout the afternoon to welcome visitors and to answer any questions about the winter engineering works. 

What are we doing now? 

Now that the fish relocation is complete, we have slowly been fully draining the canal basin and reducing the water level in the reach between locks 13 and 14. During this process, we are monitoring the embankments, assessing known leaks and any others that may arise. 

The basin is now almost fully drained, so we’ve erected scaffold towers at each lock gate quoin, ready to prepare these for the installation of the gates.

For anyone who’d find a lock gate terminology refresher useful, the quoin is the semi-circular cut-out of the masonry (or, in the case of lock 15, concrete) into which the gate fits and pivots, a bit like a hinge. Over time, the old heel posts on the gates have worn away some of the concrete. We’ve added ‘quoin liners’ to the new gates already, to help protect the quoin. 

In the basin, we’ve built another (smaller) dam, in front of the upper lock gates. This will help us to manage any water that collects in the basin, preventing it from reaching the lock 15 works site and allowing us to divert it to the dummy lock, to be pumped out.

What are we doing next? 

In lock 15 we will be coring into the concrete lock gate quoins, so that we can fit the new gates with their pre-attached quoin liners.

We’re also working to clear the lock of the old gate attachments, including the cills, the raised ledge against which the lock gates close, and seal shut.

At the dummy lock we will be investigating the existing leak to assess the damage. This will then inform the future repair work.

Keep up to date

We are committed to keeping local residents, businesses and other stakeholders informed of the winter works programme, and will do so via:

Email updates

We will circulate email updates regularly throughout the works programme; if you would like to receive these updates, please email CrinanWinterWorks@scottishcanals.co.uk. Your details will not be held for any other purpose and will not be passed on to any third parties. Anyone already signed up to receive Crinan winter works updates will continue to do so unless you advise us otherwise.

Community meetings

We will continue to hold our next quarterly community forum meetings; the next meeting will be towards the end of January, in the Egg Shed, Ardrishaig.

Online updates

We will continue to share updates on this page on the Scottish Canals website. You can also find more general information and updates about the works online on our Ongoing Works page.

We will also share updates on the Crinan Canal Facebook page and the Scottish Canals’ Facebook page.  

If you have any concerns during this programme of works, you can contact Donna Mallan, Customer Operations Manager (Scottish Canals), on 01546 603210 (9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday) or you can email CrinanWinterWorks@scottishcanals.co.uk

Alternatively, you can contact Mackenzie Construction on 0141 633 5555 (8am – 5pm, Monday to Friday). 

Crinan Canal planned winter works programme 2023/24 - update and invitation - 16th November 2023

What have we been doing?

The over-lock crane platform was delivered to us in sections at the end of October and we transported these along the canal from lock 10 to lock 15 to minimise local disruption. The team have now successfully completed the platform installation over lock 15 and a 130-tonne crane is now in place over the lock.

This innovative method of working is a first for Scottish Canals and is a response to local feedback and our determination to minimise the impact of our winter works on the local community. The over-lock crane platform has been in development since the end of last year’s winter works programme and is the result of collaboration between our engineering team, principal contractors Mackenzie Construction, and support from our partners Argyll and Bute Council.

While the concept is in use elsewhere, it is rarely seen at this scale – we’re grateful to the team for their perseverance in bringing the crane platform to fruition.

The installation of the over-lock platform will have a huge impact on the winter works as it means that we don’t need to position the crane on the road, so we are able to minimise disruption at Crinan by significantly reducing the need for road closures. The platform also provides improved efficiencies and more favourable lifting conditions for our operations.

The crane has already carried out its first lifting operations; working with a second 130t crane at lock 14, we lifted the new lock 15 gates from their location lock side at 14 onto the pontoon and floated them the short distance to lock 15. The crane on the platform carried out its first proper lift, lifting the gates from the pontoon to lock side at 15. They are now in position ready to be installed.

In preparation for draining locks 14, 15, and the Crinan Basin, we will install stop planks just downstream of lock 15. We’ve transported these stop planks along the canal from lock 10 to lock 14.

What are we doing now?

We currently have divers working at the stop plank site downstream of lock 15, installing a sealing plate at the bottom of the stop plank grooves in the canal walls. Once complete, the crane on the platform will lift the stop planks from the pontoon and place them one at a time across the canal, placing them into grooves. The planks stack together horizontally to create a dam.

The team are also preparing to lift out the old lock gates, with works planned for the end of this week. The smaller and lighter timber upper gates will be lifted out first. They’ll be lifted on to the island, using the crane on the platform. The heavier steel lower gates will then be lifted in tandem by the crane on the platform and a second crane, which will be positioned on the road. The gates will be lifted on to the road and then transferred to a pontoon, ready to be transported via the canal.

We will need to close the road beside Crinan Basin to facilitate the lower gates lifts; the closure will be indicated by signage on the ground.

Crinan Basin remains fenced off for the duration of the works programme, to ensure safety for the duration of the works. Additional safety fencing will be installed around the edge of the basin before we begin dewatering.

Road beside Crinan Basin now open

The extended temporary closure beside the Crinan Basin has now finished, and we don’t anticipate any further long closure periods in the near future. Please keep in mind that the road closure permission process allows for closures as required during the winter works programme – if a short temporary closure is required for any reason, such as the gate lifts, this will be indicated by signage on the ground.

Lock 15 closed to public access

Lock 15 remains closed to the public, with a pedestrian diversion in place via the gates at lock 14.

What are we doing next?

Once the stop lock is installed the team will assess and carry out temporary repairs to the existing leak at the dummy lock. This will prevent any water ingress to the canal basin once we drain the water level down, ensuring the team can work safety.

Fish relocation operations and open afternoon invitation

We will be working with specialists to catch and release the fish from the canal sections as we dewater them; we expect this to be towards the end of November.

Come and join us to discover more about the wildlife who make the canal their home, and find out more about the important engineering works that are underway. We’ll have members of the fish relocation team on hand to explain how they capture, transport, and release the rescued fish.

There will be a chance to see rescued fish up close, and to see them released back into the canal. Members of Scottish Canals’ environment team and our friends from Heart of Argyll Wildlife will be on hand, and we will also be joined by some of the Scottish Canals and Mackenzie Construction site engineering team. The site team will explain more about the winter works programme on the canal, how and why we dewater the canal, and why we need to carry out these works.

Where: The Egg Shed, Ardrishaig, PA30 8DX.

When: Thursday 23rd November, 2pm – 5pm (you can come along any time during the afternoon)

Please note that as the fish relocation is part of the construction works schedule, it is subject to change. We’ll provide updates and advance confirmation via our website and Facebook pages.

This event will be partly outdoors, so please dress for the weather. We would love to see folk arriving by boot or bike, but there is plenty of car parking space available, too.

What to expect? The open afternoon is free to attend, and suitable for all ages.

Keep up to date

We are committed to keeping local residents, businesses and other stakeholders informed of the winter works programme, and will do so via:

Email updates

We will circulate email updates regularly throughout the works programme; if you would like to receive these updates, please email CrinanWinterWorks@scottishcanals.co.uk. Your details will not be held for any other purpose and will not be passed on to any third parties. Anyone already signed up to receive Crinan winter works updates will continue to do so unless you advise us otherwise.

Community meetings

We will continue to hold our next quarterly community forum meetings; the next meeting will be towards the end of January in the Egg Shed.

Online updates

We will continue to share updates on this page on the Scottish Canals website. You can also find more general information and updates about the works online on our Ongoing Works page.

We will also share updates on the Crinan Canal Facebook page and the Scottish Canals’ Facebook page.  

If you have any concerns during this programme of works, you can contact Donna Mallan, Customer Operations Manager (Scottish Canals), on 01546 603210 (9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday) or you can email CrinanWinterWorks@scottishcanals.co.uk

Alternatively, you can contact Mackenzie Construction on 0141 633 5555 (8am – 5pm, Monday to Friday). 

A heritage look at the Crinan Canal planned winter works programme 2023/24

Chris O'Connell, our Heritage Manager, visited lock 15 ahead of this year's winter works programme - take a look to find out more about the project from a heritage perspective. 

Crinan Canal planned winter works programme 2023/24 - update 10th October 2023

Change to works programme completion date  

We are delighted to let you know that we have revised our winter works completion date – we are now working to a canal reopening date of 12 April 2024, a month earlier than we originally advised, and a completion date of Mid-May 2024 rather than Mid-June 2024.  

The lock gate replacement programme is essential to ensure the continued safe operation of the canal, however we appreciate the impact of these works on the local community and businesses. Following consultation, we moved the works start date back to the end of October. In addition, our engineering team and our principal contractors Mackenzie Construction have been working hard behind the scenes with support from our partners Argyll and Bute Council, to investigate new methods of working to further reduce the impact of the works. 

We are pleased to have now received approval for the commissioning of an innovative ‘over-lock crane platform’.  

This method of working has been developed by our engineers and contractors and is a first for Scottish Canals. The crane platform is a modular system; while the system is in use elsewhere, it is rarely seen at the scale required for our works. The platform sections will be floated along the canal to the works site to ensure minimal local disruption during their delivery.   

The new crane arrangement will facilitate efficient lifting of the old lock gates out of the lock chamber and lift the new gates into place, as well as for various other activities throughout the works. Without the platform, the crane would be situated on the road alongside the canal basin, requiring multiple temporary road closures. The platform will significantly reduce the road closures required, minimising disruption as far as we possibly can.   

The over-lock crane platform will also provide more favourable lifting conditions for our operations; the lifting radius will be reduced as the crane will be closer to the lock gates, and lifting will therefore be at a slightly lower level. This allows us to use a smaller and lower crane which will reduce the risk of weather impact.  

During last year’s winter works we successfully trialled a new method as part of the lock gate installation process, carrying out works to the gates before they are installed rather than during the installation process. This year, the site team have developed this a stage further, carrying out additional pre-attachment works to the new lock 15 gates. This is anticipated to add further efficiencies during the gate installation works. 

Additionally, Argyll and Bute Council have now approved our Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO). With this critical confirmation now in place alongside the approval of the over-lock crane platform, we have been able to revise the works programme. 

A note of caution though; as with any construction works, dates are subject to change. We are committed to delivering a safe, efficient programme; the revised timetable is more challenging, so we will review this schedule in November and again in January to assess the impact of any extreme weather or unexpected site conditions. We’ll provide updates on these reviews, and continue to share regular communications, too. 

What are we doing next? 

Preparations for crane platform installation 

The over-lock crane platform will be built on site, and the site team will shortly begin excavating small areas on the island between lock 15 and the dummy lock for the installation of the platform’s foundations. The foundations are temporary and will be removed after the works. These localised works won’t require a diversion, but please note that the team will set up a safe working area and that there will be machinery on the island.  

Closure of layby and removal of layby wall from Monday 16th October  

We had anticipated closing the layby alongside the sea lock office/sea lock chamber last month, however our site team worked to enable us to postpone these restrictions, to minimise local disruption. The layby will now be closed from Monday 16th October. We will be temporarily taking down the wall running alongside the layby to create a safe working area and will reinstate the wall on completion of the works. 

Closure of lock 15 from Monday 16th October 

Lock 15 will be closed to the public from Monday 16th October as our preparation works for the crane platform continue. There will be a safe diversion route via lock 14, with signage in place. The canal navigation will remain open until 5pm on the 25th of October 2023.   

Lock 10 car park closure from Saturday 21st October 

We will be closing the car park at Lock 10 only for short periods at the beginning and end of the works. The first closure is anticipated to be from Saturday 21st October to Sunday 29th October. This is to allow us to transport a crane and plant machinery along the canal from Lock 10 to Crinan, removing construction traffic from the road. 

First road closure from Monday 23rd October  

Our Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) application has been approved by Argyll and Bute Council. As we’ve mentioned previously, the process required that we apply for an ‘umbrella’ closure period – any required road closures will NOT be in place for the full duration of the TTRO. 

We can now confirm the proposed road closure from Monday 23rd October will begin as planned, alongside Crinan Basin as far as the Crinan Hotel, on the Crinan loop road.   

The closure will be from 8am to 5pm each day, with restricted and residential access only. This closure is required for setting up the crane platform as well as to allow some temporary works to facilitate these operations. We expect the closure to be in place for up to four weeks. During this period, the Crinan Hotel can be accessed via the western side of the loop road.  

As during the previous years’ works, we will advise the details of road closures closer to the works and specific activities and they will all be indicated by signage on the ground. We will always endeavour to only close roads for as short a period as necessary, and on as few occasions as possible. 

Crinan Canal Basin fencing from Monday 23rd October 

Crinan Basin will be fully fenced off for the duration of the works; we’ll be installing this safety fencing from Monday 23rd October.  

Keep up to date  

We are committed to keeping local residents, businesses and other stakeholders informed of the winter works programme, and will do so via:  

Email updates  

We will circulate email updates regularly throughout the works programme; if you would like to receive these updates, please email CrinanWinterWorks@scottishcanals.co.uk. Your details will not be held for any other purpose and will not be passed on to any third parties. Anyone already signed up to receive Crinan winter works updates will continue to do so unless you advise us otherwise.  

Community meetings  

Our next quarterly community forum meeting will be on Thursday 26th October (6:30pm at The Egg Shed).  

Online updates  

We will continue to share updates this Projects web page. We’ll also share notice of specific road closures, towpath closures, and diversions, on our Ongoing Works page.

We will also share updates on the Crinan Canal Facebook page and the Scottish Canals’ Facebook page.  

If you have any concerns during this programme of works, you can contact Donna Mallan, Customer Operations Manager (Scottish Canals), on 01546 603210 (9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday) or you can email CrinanWinterWorks@scottishcanals.co.uk

Alternatively, you can contact Mackenzie Construction on 0141 633 5555 (8am – 5pm, Monday to Friday). 

Crinan Canal planned winter works programme 2023/24 - update 14th September 2023

What are we doing now?

Mackenzie Construction, our principal contractors, will begin preparations on site from Monday 18th September.

As last year, we will be using the Crinan Basin car park as our works site, so the car park will be closed to the public throughout the winter period. We apologise for the inconvenience this causes and we’ll look to open the car park back up as soon as we are able. Throughout the works we will require to bring large plant onto site, but we will ensure all deliveries are marshalled to reduce disruption.

The first deliveries will be the site cabins, which will arrive from Monday – please be aware that there will be heavier vehicles on the road which may cause minor local disruption. These cabins will be hardwired into the electricity network, removing the need to run generators throughout the day and night and minimising noise disturbance.

From Monday 25th September, there will be parking restrictions within the layby alongside the sea lock office/sea lock chamber, to facilitate the works and ensure safe working areas. Restrictions will apply for the duration of the works programme. Parking will at times be completely suspended in the layby, as required during the project.

What will we be doing next?

This third year of works continues our lock gate replacement programme, with the installation of new gates at lock 15, the Crinan sea lock. We will also be upgrading the existing life-expired operating equipment for new electrical gate actuators.

In order to undertake these works safely and effectively, we will dewater lock 15, Crinan Basin, and lock 14. We will also need to lower the water level in the reach between locks 13 and 14 by around 1m. The canal will be closed to through navigation, but it will be open as usual for boat movements as far as lock 13.

The last transit entry into the canal will be on Saturday 21st October, with the canal then closing to boat traffic at 5pm on Wednesday 25th October.

Ahead of this closure, we will install safety fencing and signage around the sea lock, Crinan Basin, and lock 14 so that it is in place ready for the start of the works and the water drain down. As soon as we have a date confirmed for when the fencing will be erected, we’ll share an update on Facebook and on the Crinan Canal winter works webpage for ongoing works.

We are still investigating new methods of working so that we can minimise the impact of our works on the local community.

We have now submitted our application to Argyll and Bute Council for permission to close roads as required throughout the works, via a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO). The process for this is such that we apply for an ‘umbrella’ permission period for the duration of the works. Please be assured that any required road closures will NOT be in place for the full duration of the TTRO.

As during the previous years’ works, we will advise the details of road closures closer to the works and specific activities and they will all be indicated by signage on the ground. We will always endeavour to only close roads for as short a period as necessary, and on as few occasions as possible.

The first proposed road closure will be from Monday 23rd October, alongside Crinan Basin as far as the Crinan Hotel, on the Crinan loop road. 

The closure will be from 8am to 5pm each day, with restricted and residential access only. This closure is required for setting up the crane which will be carrying out lifting operations for the lock gate installation, as well as to allow some temporary works to facilitate these operations. We expect the closure to be in place for up to four weeks. During this period, the Crinan Hotel can be accessed via the western side of the loop road. We have already advised those directly affected by the closure and continue to consult with Argyll and Bute Council.

We will be closing the car park at Lock 10 only for short periods at the beginning and end of the works. The first closure is anticipated to be from Saturday 21st October to Sunday 29th October. This is to allow us to transport a crane and plant machinery along the canal from lock 10 to Crinan, removing construction traffic from the road.

We expect to reopen the canal in mid-May 2024, with contractors finishing on site in mid-June 2024.

Mackenzie Construction Community Fund

Mackenzie Construction received a fantastic response to their community fund, from a wide range of local groups and organisations.  

The fund is focused on providing civil engineering work, and applications were considered against the fund criteria: benefits to the wider community, long term positive impact, supporting community health and wellbeing, environmental benefits and sustainability, reducing inequality, and creating or promoting opportunities for young people. 

Mackenzie Construction will now be carrying out site visits with successful applicants. In addition, we are delighted to see that they have also marked the launch of the fund by offering a £500 goodwill donation to each organisation whose application did not entirely satisfy the civil engineering or community benefit criteria, in support of their projects. 

We are excited to see further updates as projects progress. 

Keep up to date

We are committed to keeping all local residents, businesses, and other stakeholders informed of the winter works programme, and will do so via:

Email updates

We will circulate email updates regularly throughout the works programme; if you would like to receive these updates, please email CrinanWinterWorks@scottishcanals.co.uk. Your details will not be held for any other purpose and will not be passed on to any third parties. Anyone already signed up to receive Crinan winter works updates will continue to do so unless you advise us otherwise.

Community meetings

Our quarterly community forum meetings will continue as normal during the winter works; the next meeting will be on Thursday 26th October (time and venue TBC).

Online updates

We will continue to share updates online, with our regular updates posted to this page. 

We’ll also share notice of specific road closures, towpath closures, and diversions, on our Ongoing Works page. As we move through the programme we will include milestone project dates on this page, too, allowing you to see where we are within the works programme. Please note that, as with any major construction project, dates will always be subject to change.

We will also share updates on the Crinan Canal Facebook page and the Scottish Canals’ Facebook page.

If you have any concerns during this programme of works, you can contact Donna Mallan, Customer Operations Manager (Scottish Canals), on 01546 603210 (09:00 – 17:00, Mon – Fri) or you can email CrinanWinterWorks@scottishcanals.co.uk . 

Alternatively, you can contact Mackenzie Construction on 0141 633 5555 (08:00 – 17:00, Mon - Fri).

Update 22nd August 2023 - Year three of the Crinan Canal planned winter works programme

Invitation: Crinan Canal planned winter works 2023/24 drop-in session

We will be holding an informal drop-in information session ahead of this year’s winter works programme, and we would like to invite you to join us: 

When: Tuesday 29th August, from 4pm – 7pm (you can come along any time during the afternoon)

Where: Crinan Coffee Shop, Crinan Hotel, Crinan, by Lochgilphead, PA31 8SR

Mackenzie Construction, our principal contractor, and members of Scottish Canals’ engineering team will be there to chat to you about the planned winter works and to answer any questions you might have. 

If you are unable to attend the drop-in session but do have questions, then please email us at CrinanWinterWorks@scottishcanals.co.uk. 

What will the 2023/24 winter works programme involve?

This third year of works continues our lock gate replacement programme, with the installation of new gates at lock 15, the Crinan sea lock. We will also be upgrading the existing life-expired operating equipment for new electrical gate actuators.

Preparatory works will begin from mid to late September 2023, however the canal will remain fully open until Wednesday 25th October 2023. We will then close to through navigation boat traffic from Thursday 26th October 2023.

In order to undertake these works safely and effectively, we will drain lock 15, Crinan Basin, and lock 14. We may also need to lower the water level in the pound between locks 13 and 14. The canal will be closed to through navigation, but it will be open as usual for boat movements as far as lock 13.

The last transit entry into the canal will be on Saturday 21st October, with the canal then closing to boat traffic at 5pm on Wednesday 25th October. Additionally, there may be restrictions on the towpath and there will need to be temporary closures of roads around the lock. Appropriate diversions will be put in place, where required. As always, we will endeavour to minimise disruption locally, and we will give as much advance notice of road and towpath access restrictions as possible.

We have applied to Argyll and Bute Council for permission to close the roads as required, via a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO). The process for this is such that we have applied for an ‘umbrella’ permission period for the duration of the works. Please be assured that any required road closures will NOT be in place for the full duration of the Temporary Traffic Regulation Order. 

We expect to reopen the canal in mid-May 2024, with contractors finishing on site in mid-June 2024.

You can find more details in our previous update, below. 

Temporary repair works – leak at Crinan dummy lock (old sea lock) 

We had planned to carry out repairs to a known minor leak at Crinan dummy lock (the old sea lock) during the upcoming winter works, however the leak developed significantly at the beginning of August. 

We have moved boats out of the dummy lock as a precaution and carried out a holding repair. We will continue to monitor the area, and once Crinan Basin is drained down for the lock gate replacement works, we will implement a more permanent repair. 

Mackenzie Construction Community Fund 

We were delighted to see Mackenzie Construction launch a community fund in May for the Crinan communities. They have advised that, due to the volume of applications, they will now be in touch with successful applicants by 31st August. 

Email and online updates 

We will circulate email updates regularly throughout the works programme; if you would like to receive these updates, please email CrinanWinterWorks@scottishcanals.co.uk. Your details will not be held for any other purpose and will not be passed on to any third parties. Anyone already signed up to receive Crinan winter works updates will continue to do so unless you advise us otherwise. 

We will continue to share updates on this webpage, the Crinan Canal Facebook page and the Scottish Canals’ Facebook page. We will also share details of road and towpath restrictions during the works on our Ongoing Works webpage.

Community meetings

Our next quarterly community forum meeting will be on Thursday 26th October (time and venue TBC).

If you have any concerns during this programme of works, you can contact Donna Mallan, Customer Operations Manager (Scottish Canals), on 01546 603210 (09:00 – 17:00, Mon – Fri) or you can email CrinanWinterWorks@scottishcanals.co.uk 

Alternatively, you can contact Mackenzie Construction on 0141 633 5555 (08:00 – 17:00, Mon - Fri).

Update 18th July 2023 - Year three of the Crinan Canal planned winter works programme

The third year of our Crinan Canal winter works programme will begin with preparatory works from mid to late September 2023, however the canal will remain fully open until Wednesday 25th October 2023. We will then close to through navigation boat traffic from Thursday 26th October 2023.

Following careful consideration of feedback from stakeholders and customers, and extensive discussions with our contractors, we are able this year to keep the canal open for a full month later than last year.

What will we be doing during the planned works for the 2023/24 winter programme, and when?

This third year of works continues our lock gate replacement programme, with the installation of new gates at lock 15, the Crinan sea lock. We will also be upgrading the existing life-expired operating equipment for new electrical gate actuators.

In order to undertake these works safely and effectively, we will dewater lock 15, Crinan Basin, and lock 14. We may also need to lower the water level in the pound between locks 13 and 14. The canal will be closed to through navigation, but it will be open as usual for boat movements as far as lock 13.

The last transit entry into the canal will be on Saturday 21st October, with the canal then closing to boat traffic at 5pm on Wednesday 25th October. Additionally, there may be restrictions on the towpath and there will need to be temporary closures of roads around the lock. We will put appropriate diversions in place, where required. As always, we will endeavour to minimise disruption locally, and we will give as much advance notice of road and towpath access restrictions as possible.

Mackenzie Construction will continue as our principal contractor; they will begin on site in mid to late September 2023 to carry out preparatory works ahead of the canal closure. We are actively investigating new methods of working so that we can minimise the impact of our works on the local community.

We expect to reopen the canal in mid-May 2024, with contractors finishing on site in mid-June 2024.

Email updates

We will circulate email updates regularly throughout the works programme; if you would like to receive these updates, please email CrinanWinterWorks@scottishcanals.co.uk. Your details will not be held for any other purpose and will not be passed on to any third parties. Anyone already signed up to receive Crinan winter works updates will continue to do so unless you advise us otherwise.

Community meetings

We will hold an open drop-in information session before the works start, where Scottish Canals staff and members of the site team will be available to answer any questions you may have. We’ll let you know the details of this session closer to the time.

Our quarterly community forum meetings will continue as normal, too; the next meetings will be:

• Wednesday 26th July at Cairnbaan Hotel, by Lochgilphead, from 18:30 – 20:00
• Thursday 26th October (time and venue TBC)

Online updates

We will continue to share updates throughout the works on this webpage, the Crinan Canal Facebook page and the Scottish Canals’ Facebook page.