Forth & Clyde Canal: Lock 16 Bypass and Falkirk Flight Gate Replacement Programme

Why are the works needed?

It is almost 25 years since the Millennium Link Project re-opened Scotland’s Lowland canal network, turning derelict waterways into thriving spaces for nature and people.

Oak gates, like those installed during the Project, last an average of 25 years in the water. That’s because they are subject to immense pressure from thousands of cubic litres of water, weather and erosion, as well as wear and tear from regular use. With their anniversary approaching, many of the gates on the Falkirk Flight are now due for replacement under a multi-million-pound programme financed by our Capital Investment Fund. 

Throughout 2025 and 2026, we will replace a total of 10 lock gates along the canal in addition to installing a bypass at lock 16. We’ll also take the opportunity, while navigation is suspended and water levels lowered, to carry out inspection and maintenance work at each of the locks. This work is essential to keeping the Forth & Clyde Canal open and to ensuring this space can continue to be enjoyed for generations to come. 

The site compound is based at the Union Inn car park. 

Information for boaters

Please note that navigation between locks 3 and 16 is now suspended until August 2026 to accommodate the full series of works. If you have any questions about the upcoming works programme and impacts upon moorings, please contact our Moorings Team direct at moorings@scottishcanals.co.uk. For questions about impacts on navigation, please contact Lowland.canals@scottishcanals.co.uk.

Update (28th January 2026): New Re-Opening Date and 2026 Programme of Works

The re-opening of the Falkirk Flight of the Forth & Clyde Canal (between locks 3 and 16) is now rescheduled for August 2026. Navigation will remain suspended along this section of the canal for the duration. 

To date, we have replaced six sets of lock gates (upstream and downstream gates at Lock 16, as well as downstream gates at locks 15, 14, 13 and 12). Meanwhile, our Maintenance Team has over-planked the upstream gates on several locks to extend their lifetimes. 

We have also installed a new lock bypass beneath the busy Lock 16 bridge – an important step in ensuring safe and reliable water management along the canal in the years ahead. 

While the canal was dewatered and excavations were underway in 2025, we also carried out a series of inspections to ascertain the condition of the canal bed and structure. This gave us an unprecedented view of the embankments, masonry and clay linings – seeing areas of the canal that have been covered for many decades.  

The result was that we identified additional repairs were needed to the canal. With the scope of work increasing throughout the year, we have faced some delays to the project, pushing our timelines further out.  

As a consequence, we have decided to extend the project timeline to August 2026 as the only way to guarantee the safety, quality and durability of the canal. 

Upcoming works programme 

From 16th February, we will dewater the Forth & Clyde Canal between locks 3 and 16. 

Before the canal is fully dewatered, we will organise a Fish Rescue, similar to the one we carried out last year. Fish still located in this section of the canal will be captured and then released further downstream. 

From March to July, we will replace the downstream gates at locks 11, 10, 9 and 7 with a continued programme of inspections, repairs and over-planking. While the canal is drained, we will also conduct a series of asset inspections and temporary repair works at Lock 4.  The canal will be rewatered by July. 

A towpath diversion will be in place from 9th February to the end of the works programme. Signage showing alternative routes to the closed sections of towpath will be in place along the canal.  

You can view detailed diversion maps below. 

FAQs – Progress of the Falkirk Flight Engineering Programme 

Why have there been delays to the works programme? 

Our canals are a familiar part of the landscape and offer important cycling and walking routes that connect our communities. They are also scheduled historic monuments – the Forth & Clyde is 235 years old and must be managed in compliance with heritage legislation as well as sensitivity to its age and condition.  

These structures are also subject to enormous pressure from the millions of cubic tonnes of water that flow through them, pressure of the soil and rock alongside them, effects of temporary surges in water levels, and the many ways they are weathered (freeze-thaw cycles that crack or shift masonry, prolonged hot weather that can dry the clay linings and heavy rainfall events). 

They also face all the usual effects of time – corrosion of metals, biological growth, rotting and degradation of timbers. 

Added to all of these factors that can complicate engineering and excavations, there are the many unknowns about the state of the canal’s structure that we can only discover once the canal is dewatered and we start to delve into it. 

Finally, we need to take a careful and sensitive approach to the canals, ensuring we are properly protecting the natural habitats and wildlife, maintaining safe water controls, and working in compliance with legislation on scheduled monuments. 

As we have worked, the list of essential repairs and upgrades needed to maintain public safety (both for local residents and boaters) has grown, causing significant delays to our programme.  

Throughout, we have prioritised covering off all of the tasks needed to ensure public safety and prevent imminent failure of the canal’s structure and gates. 

Why was the programme of works planned in this way? 

Lock gates made from oak typically last 25 years in the water: all of the gates along the Falkirk Flight were installed during the Millennium Link project, meaning that they are fast approaching replacement.  

Replace them too early and we risk losing out on years of their service, and too late – they could pose a safety risk to boaters if they fail. As we monitored their condition in recent years, we concluded that replacing the gates now would be the best and safest option. 

With such an extensive programme of works, and the canal being dewatered for long periods, it has also given us the opportunity to carry out more detailed inspections of those parts of the canal normally out of view or difficult of access.  

That is why we have tried to package as many of the repairs, upgrades and maintenance tasks together as possible, preventing future shutdowns of the canal. 

Why are you dewatering such a long section of the canal?  

By dewatering to Lock 3, we will be able to carry out a full asset inspection of Lock 4 and over-planking of the gates there. It will allow us to work efficiently along the rest of the canal as we complete the gate replacements and additional repairs. We need to dewater the canal to Lock 16, as we will use the bypass and Carmuirs Weir to maintain water controls along the canal. 

What will be the impact on local residents and commuters? 

The towpath and road closures associated with the construction of the Lock 16 bypass over the summer brought disruption to local traffic, pedestrians and cyclists.  

The support and tolerance of the local community throughout that time was deeply appreciated and important to being able to progress that challenging phase of the programme. 

With most of the upcoming works set to be confined within the locks, we do not foresee this level of traffic disruption again. We anticipate two short closures (1-2 days on each occasion) of the road by Lock 11, first for the lifting of the old gates and then for the installation of the new gates. Dates and diversion routes will be publicised nearer the time. 

With the dewatering of the canal, there will also be towpath diversions in place from 9th February to the end of the works programme in July. Signage showing alternative routes to the closed sections of towpath will be in place along the canal You can view the alternative route maps above. 

The site compound will remain in place in the car park of the Union Inn close to Lock 16 until the end of the works programme in August. 

How will you assist moorings customers?

Our Moorings Team has reached out to all affected moorings customers, who are currently located in alternative berths. Those who wish to remain in their current alternative moorings will be able to do so, or we will work with our boat residents to find other spots.

The moorings team can be reached on moorings@scottishcanals.co.uk (Monday to Friday). 

Which sections of the canal are still navigable over the summer? 

Navigation will remain suspended between locks 3 and 16 of the canal up until August 2026, but all other stretches of the canal remain open for holiday boats, hire boats and moorings customers. 

Next year marks the 25th anniversary of the Falkirk Flight, what are you doing to celebrate this milestone? 

By the end of the summer in 2026, this section of canal will be refitted, repaired and ready for its next 25 years (and beyond). We look forward to welcoming our boating community, visitors and local communities to the celebrations when we re-open the canal. We’ll release more details nearer the time. 

Contact us 

If you have concerns or queries about the work in your community, please contact us on enquiries@scottishcanals.co.uk, or on 0141 332 6936 (Monday to Thursday 08:30 ‑ 17:00, and on Friday 08:30 ‑ 16:30). 

Should you need to contact the team urgently outside of working hours, please call Scottish Canals’ emergency number, 0800 072 9900 (open 24 hours a day for reporting an immediate threat to the environment, wildlife or public safety). 

Successful installation of the gates at locks 12 and 15 - 12th December 2025

This week, our engineering team, working with contractor Mackenzie Construction Ltd, have installed two new sets of gates on the Falkirk Flight, at locks 12 and 15. We thank everyone in the community for their patience during the temporary road closures, and you can see below the new gates at Lock 12.

Installation of the New Gates at Lock 12

The new set of gates for Lock 12 are due for delivery on Monday 8th December 2025. During the installation, which is expected to take two days, our contractor Mackenzie Construction will close a section of Glenfuir Road (see below) to allow enough space to complete the process safely. We will provide updates on progress on our social channels throughout the week. 

Later in the week, we will also begin installation of the new gates at Lock 15, which will not require any disruption to traffic. 

Installation of Steel Gates at Lock 16 - 29 October 2025

Following the removal of the old lock gates in September, we accepted delivery of a set of new steel gates on Wednesday 29th October from Harrisons Engineering in Clitheroe. Contractor Mackenzie Construction Ltd will install the gates over the coming days, with some additional work planned for the weekend.

Why steel? The oak lock gates, installed during the Millennium Link, are only serviceable for 25 years. We’d like the next generation of gates to last longer, and steel gates can exceed 40 years in the water. They’re less vulnerable to wear and tear from the elements, shrinking and warping.

We aim to have the gates installed by the beginning of next week, with fine alignment and installation of operating mechanisms to follow from next Monday.

Lock 16 Gate Replacements - September to November

The Lock 16 bridge and towpath will remain open throughout the gate replacements at the lock. Traffic lights may be in place for periods when we are conducting gate lift and related operations.

Previous updates

Removal of the siphon between locks 11 and 16 - August

In early August, Mackenzie Construction will demobilise the siphon on the towpath. The process of rewatering the canal will then begin. Part of the towpath will be closed during that time with pedestrians and cyclists diverted over the Lock 16 bridge, lock 14 footbridge and the underpass by Rosebank distillery. Duration is expected to be 3 weeks.

Update (7 August 2025): Canal rewatering and towpath closures

Following the successful completion of clean-up operations at Lock 16, we will begin rewatering the section of canal from Monday 11 August. To enable our teams to carry out these works, towpath closures will be in place from Lock 16 to Lock 11 starting Monday 11 August, with signage and diversion routes clearly marked. We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we carry out these essential works. 

Update (25th July 2025): Lock 16 bridge set to re-open

We anticipate that the temporary road closure over Lock 16 will be lifted on Saturday 26th July. Mackenzie Construction Ltd are in the final stages of resurfacing the road. 

Update and FAQs (5th June 2025): Temporary road closure extension until 1st August 

While excavating under the road to install the bypass pipework, we have had to work around a lot of buried utilities and the age of the canal infrastructure is further complicating the project, bringing some unexpected delays. We have tried to find alternative solutions, but unfortunately, we have had to agree a road closure extension with Falkirk Council until Friday 1st August. The current diversion route will be in place up to that date. 

Our engineering works are essential to keeping the historic canal safe, maintaining control over water levels, and ensuring the canal can remain open and navigable for decades to come. But we do understand that they are bringing inconvenience to local people. 

We would like to thank everyone in the Camelon, Bantaskin and Tamfourhill areas for their patience and support since the project began, and we will do our best to reduce further disruption. In the meantime, we have compiled some responses to questions coming in from the community.

Why has the road closure been extended?

We do often face delays and encounter unexpected obstacles when we start to excavate under historic infrastructure, and unfortunately, in this case, our contractor has encountered unforeseen technical issues. We had to take a decision to apply for a road closure extension in the interests of public safety.

Why was there no public consultation ahead of the project?

The works were not subject to public consultation as they are considered to be essential works in the interests of public safety and in maintaining the structural integrity of the canal.

Would it be possible to install a temporary footbridge at Lock 16 for times when the construction team are not working?

We considered installing a temporary footbridge over the Lock 16 bridge before the road closure, but we had to reject this option as there is not enough space to ensure a safe distance from construction area, plant and equipment. Installing temporary footbridges at the adjacent locks is also not feasible due to the work being done to prepare for the lock gate replacements and the auxiliary repair works.

Why are working hours not being extended to speed things up?

The Mackenzie Construction site teams are limited to operating during the day and the during working week to avoid making noise overnight and at weekends in a busy residential area. Where they do have to push some activities into weekends and early evenings, they will make every effort to minimise noise.

Update (22 April 2025): Temporary road closure

Please note that due to the installation of the lock bypass under the road bridge at Lock 16, traffic controls will be in effect from 28th April for 8 weeks with diversion signage posted. The road will also be closed to pedestrians and traffic with diversion routes signposted. We apologise for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding as we carry out these essential safety works.

Update (19 March 2025): Fish rescue

Today, we started lowering the water levels between locks 16 and 15 as part of the bypass works. Forth Rivers Trust are leading the rescue of fish and relocating them to other parts of the canal. From 25th to 27th, fish will be rescued from locks 11 to 15 as we dewater the canal further down the Falkirk Flight too.