Falkirk Flight Upgrade and Gate Replacement Programme - Extension

Dewatering and rewatering of a canal section is a laborious and slow task. Towns like Falkirk have grown up around the Forth & Clyde Canal over several centuries, making the canal an essential part of water management and drainage in the area. Dewatering of the canal began in February 2025 and progressed over several weeks, as our water controls team stabilised and monitored impacts on water levels along the canal and worked to prevent leakage. A final stage was relocating any fish left behind in a channel at the base of the canal before the canal was fully drained. 

Downstream gates experience greater loading than upstream gates and tend to require replacement earlier. They hold back the full volume of water in a chamber when it empties –creating an enormous force that distorts and twists their structure over time. More silt and abrasive materials collect against them too, wearing down seals; while turbulent water from the sluices scours their surfaces. Collisions from vessels occur more frequently too as they pass to the lower water levels. We chose ekki hardwood (sustainably sourced) for the new gates. This is a far more durable material than oak and will extend the lifetime of the gates from 25 years to 35-40 years. At the heavily used Lock 16, gates, we chose the even more robust solution of steel for both the upstream and downstream gates due to the length of pound these gates hold back.

Our inspections have shown that, as expected, the upstream gates along the Flight have suffered less wear and tear and are in better condition than the downstream gates. Only the upstream gates at Lock 16 required a full replacement at this time. Our maintenance team have also used the time when the canal has been dewatered to remove life expired lock gate planking and replace with new planking, which will extend their life expectancy up to 10 years.

One of the most challenging parts of the programme was the excavation and installation of a bypass channel around the busy Lock 16 and road bridge. Bypasses are increasingly being used as a way of exercising better water controls along the canal, something that is becoming particularly important as extreme weather and droughts affect canals across the UK (and globally). 

While the canal has been dewatered, we have had a rare view into the channel and infrastructure. The historic masonry, including the quoins (or corner grooves that hold the gate mechanisms), embankments and mechanical parts of the gates and locks have also undergone extensive repairs. 

There are three reasons why we have had to extend the original scope of work beyond that envisaged in 2024.  

• We have had a full access to normally submerged infrastructure and identified additional defects requiring intervention within a few years. To leave site now, only to return again within a short time, would increase costs of repair significantly. Packaging all upcoming work into this programme was the most cost-effective solution.  
• By extending the current works, we can reduce the likelihood of further prolonged canal closures over the next decade. Replanking of those gates that are degrading but not yet set for replacement is one way that we can extend the time between the next major repair programme. 

You can view our network map on our homepage and below to see live updates about the status of navigation on Scotland’s canals. The Forth & Clyde Canal has two major stoppages this year: from Bowling to Lock 21 (Maryhill) due to emergency works on the Kelvin Aqueduct and the Falkirk Flight programme from Lock 3 (Grangemouth) to Lock 16 (Camelon). Please contact the moorings and customer teams to discuss navigation and arrangements for your vessel.

Moorings Team: moorings@scottishcanals.co.uk

General enquiries about navigation: Lowland.canals@scottishcanals.co.uk

While the works at the Kelvin Aqueduct are confined to the structure itself and along to Lock 25, we need to suspend navigation all the way to Bowling Harbour (the harbour remains open for moorings only).  

This is because of the way that water controls are implemented along a canal of this age: the canal’s summit pound stretches across 60 miles, being fed continuously by our supply reservoirs and burns. Managing water levels along the length of the canal requires a team of water control experts working around the clock to monitor levels – while the canal is dewatered for engineering works (planned and emergency), it is not possible to maintain the stretch from Bowling to Lock 21 at levels that are navigable. 

During this time, the site compound will move from its present location in the Union Inn car park in Camelon to a site near to Lock 4 (Abbots Road).  

Towpath diversions are signposted on the spot and reference maps are below.