Crinan Canal planned winter works 2023/24

Works update - 6th December 2023

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 fenced off

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

Email and online updates

We regularly circulate email updates regarding the works programme; if you would like to receive these updates, please let us know by emailing CrinanWinterWorks@scottishcanals.co.uk.

You can find more general information and updates about the works online on our Projects web page and we will share updates on the Crinan Canal Facebook page and the Scottish Canals’ Facebook page.

Works update - 16th November 2023

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 for gate lifts, this will be indicated by signage on the ground.

The next short closure will be in place tomorrow (Friday 17th November) to allow us to lift the old sea lock gates out safely.

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.

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.

Works update - 23rd October 2023

The road closure beside Crinan Basin has now come into effect, with closures at intervals between 8am and 5pm - these will be indicated by signage. We anticipate the closure to be in place for up to four weeks.

Lock 15 is now closed to public access, with a diversion via lock 14.

The car park at lock 10 is now closed, until Sunday 29th October.

Cranes will be on site at lock 10 and lock 15 from today (Monday), ready for the arrival of the over-lock crane platform sections - we expect these sections to arrive later today.

The canal will close to through-navigation boat traffic at 5pm on Wednesday 25th October.

Works update - 13th October 2023

Lock 10 car park closure now from 3pm Sunday 22nd October

We had anticipated closing the car park at lock 10 from Saturday 21st October; we're now able to keep it open for the weekend, until 3pm on Sunday 22nd October. The car park will then be closed until Sunday 29th October.

Works 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 and bring the completion date forward. You can find out more on the Crinan Canal Winter Works project web page.

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. 

Works update - 14th September 2023

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

Crinan Basin car park - closed from 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. 

Sea lock office layby parking restrictions from 25th September

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.

Lock 10 car park - temporary closure from 21st - 29th 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.

Last transit entry - 21st October

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

Proposed road closure alongside Crinan Basin - 23rd October for up to 4 weeks

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.

All road closures will 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.

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.

You can find more general information and updates about the works online on our Projects web page and we will 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).

Works update - July 18 2023

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

We will post updates regarding specific diversions and road closures during the works on this page.

Further details of the planned winter works programme for 2023/24 are on our Projects webpage.

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).