Aire & Calder repair to cost £3 millions

THE Canal & River Trust have estimated that the repair to the breach on the Aire & Calder will cost £3 millions.

The navigation has been closed to boats and towpath users since 20th December when the breach occurred at Newbridge following high rainfall.

Multi-agency response

A multi-agency response involving a helicopter placing 240 one tonne bags of stone around the breach hole helped to manage water flow which swept away a 20 metre section of the embankment.

Following detailed inspections and surveying by engineers the trust is starting work on the permanent repairs with contractors Kier and Arcadis on a permanent and complex repair programme.

However this will take nearly four months to complete with completion not expected until around the middle of August.