AN INSPECTION IS BEING MADE of Preston Brook Tunnel on the Trent & Mersey Canal.
It is being made during the night to minimise disruption to boaters on the waterway.
No interruption
This meaning that the tunnel will be open during the day with no interruption to navigation.
Engineers travel through the tunnel by boat to assess any structural changes that may have occurred, including checking for cracks and damage to the brickwork.
There are also specialist structural engineers carrying out rope-access inspections of the four air shafts and a construction shaft, that are up to 17 metres deep. Picture by Canal & River Trust.
Peter Simpson, the trust’s principal engineer for tunnels and culverts, explained:
Built by hand
"A trip through the tunnel is like stepping back in time. It is amazing to think this tunnel was built by hand using pickaxes and shovels more than 250 years ago.
“It is extremely atmospheric, but not many people get to see inside the tunnel because there is no towpath, so it can only be experienced by travelling through it by boat.
The trust is grateful for the support of volunteers, donors, and supporters who help to preserve this remarkable heritage and keep it alive for boaters to enjoy for generations to come.