Peak Forest Canal closed for three weeks

THE failure of Wood End Lift Bridge (24) on the Peak Forest Canal will close the navigation for three weeks.

Two weeks to source parts

It was on the 13th of September that the lift bridge failed, due to a 'mechanical issue' we were told, but today we are informed that 'it could take a further two weeks for contractors to continue to source and fabricate the specialist replacement parts to repair the bridge'.

Then, we are told, it will take a further week to fit the replacement parts, after which the works will then need to be signed off by a structural engineer in order to put this bridge back in operation.

Meaning that the navigation will be closed for at least three more weeks.

Difficult to understand

It is difficult to understand how a time frame of it taking two weeks to source the parts can be given when the parts required are not yet even sourced.  And to take a week to fit the parts is ridiculous, unless of course the contractors want to drag it out to get more cash...

Adding to the swing/lift bridge woes this month, a further one is out of action—Broadhurst's Swing Bridge on the Macclesfield Canal failed yesterday, Keith Gudgin tells us, making 11 swing/lift bridge failures in one month.