Rochdale repairs progressing well

THE work to repair the Rochdale Canal where it suffered damage in the Boxing Day floods is progressing well, with the section between Sowerby Bridge and Hebden Bridge re-opened over Easter as planned.

Dredging the silt that flooded into the waterway and repairing walls were the main problems in that area, with locks 8 and 10 now completed and in use and dredging now nearing Lock 7, Keith Gudgin tells us.

To winding hole

When this has been completed dredging in this area will be continuing towards locks 12 and 13. The overall progress means that it is hoped the waterway will be open to the winding hole above Lock 14 by the end of May.

However, such was the damage by the storm, including land-slips that it will be some time before the canal is fully open again for navigation, with no actual date yet given.