By-wash repair closes major navigations to end of April

A SIMPLE repair to a lock by-wash chamber on Farmer's Bridge Flight has closed major navigations in Birmingham for at least a month.

The repair to the by-wash chamber of Lock 13 on Farmer's Flight on the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal has caused a major closing of the area's waterways by Canal & River Trust, reports Keith Gudgin.

The closures:

'Farmers Bridge Lock Flight & Aston Lock Flight Birmingham & Fazeley Canal & Digbeth Branch. Intersection of: Deep Cutting Junction Bridge to Livery Street Bridge on Birmingham & Fazeley Canal.
(Up Stream Winding Hole: Junction of Worcester and Birmingham, Birmingham & Fazeley & New Main Line, Down Stream Winding Hole: Aston Flight Lock 7) and Parkes Basin Bridge to Fazeley Street Bridge on Digbeth Branch (Birm'm & Fazeley).

Wednesday 8th March 2023 09:00 until Friday 28th April 2023 17:00'.

Extension added

An extension has been added to the original stoppage at Farmers Bridge Flight, as the contractors are unable to get the required liner to site until the 6th April.

Then we are told it will take three weeks to install with the team working over the Easter weekend, and then the following two and a half weeks to fill the remaining void and de-mobilise all plant and equipment.

But that equates to five and a half weeks after 6th April which brings the stoppage to the middle of May!

All in all another very misleading stoppage notice.