Grand Canal Dublin & Kildare – Dredging News – 2009

Circular Line of Grand Canal, Dublin – 6km with 7 Locks

 

We understand work will commence in November on recreating (dredging) the navigation on the 6 kilometres of the Circular Line from the Grand Canal Docks Inner Basin in Ringsend to the Suir Road [includes Central Locks 1 to 7 and the 3km level before Lock 1 on the Main Line]. As reported previously, the Invitation to Tender (ITT) for this work was published by Waterways Ireland recently, the assessment period will be during September and the work is planned for completion in Spring 2010. Questions were asked re Grand Canal and GCD Dail Oct 6th 2009 and Dail Oct 13th 2009

 

28/10/2009 Update – this notice is applicable to the first 2 km of the Circular Line:

“Marine Notice No.113 of 2009 – Dredging on the Grand Canal Circular Line
Waterways Ireland wishes to advise all Masters and Users of the Grand Canal that the Circular Line from Lock 1 (Grand Canal Street) to Lock 5 (Leeson Street) will be closed to navigation from Monday 2nd November 2009 for the Winter Season. This is to accommodate dredging to the canal channel.
Any inconvenience that this may cause our customers is regretted. Please direct further queries to 0035318680148″

Waterways Ireland site gives further information “WI propose to dredge the Grand Canal Circular Line from Grand Canal Dock Road to Baggott Street Bridge. BAM Civil Engineering Ltd has been appointed to undertake the works on site.

Works will commence 2nd November 2009 and are expected to be completed within 10-12 weeks. Waterways Ireland will have a representative on site (Resident Engineer (RE)) throughout the duration of the Contract to deal with issues which may arise. The RE will be based in Dublin with a contact number advertised on information boards that will be displayed on site. Prior to commencement of site operations the contact person will be Stephen Forrest (Tel. 048 6634 6294).”

Main Line of Grand Canal, Dublin to Lucan Bridge – 10km with 12 Locks

 

So far, Waterways Ireland have not published their plans to maintain the navigation and Locks along the 10 kilometres of the Main Line from the 1st Lock at Suir Road to the 12th Lock at Lucan Bridge. This section includes the notorious Blackhorse Bridge at Inchicore, underneath which the navigation has been silted up very badly, leaving less than .7 of a metre of water, in which to navigate under the archway.

 

Work continues paving and lighting the new Cycleway along part of the Main Line. When this is complete, boaters will once again have access to the towpath.

 

See WI ITT Circular Line Aug 14 2009 and ISBF’s new Tour Boat for more information.

 

Naas Line of Grand Canal – 4km with 5 Locks
The Kildare Branch of the IWAI have been assured by WI that there will be no issues with the Naas Line of the Grand Canal when boats make their way to Naas for October 24th. Work has commenced on cleaning the canal and the locks so boats with maximum beam will be able to pass through.
12/10/09 Update: The removal of silt and rubbish has already taken place along the Naas Line and at the entrance from the Grand Canal. Work will be taking place during the week of Oct 12th to Oct 16th to remove the build up along the sides of the five locks and on the gates, and remove any impediments to opening the gates fully for the canal boats. The Line is scheduled to be open again on Saturday Oct 17th for those boats making their way to Naas for the Canal Festival, to celebrate the building of the Naas Line 220 years ago in 1789.
19/10/09 Update: Work is still taking place on the locks. Ten boats including five of the old Canal Boats made their way through the first two locks yesterday. Some creative manouvering, removal of additional debris and work on a bolt was required to get the first two boats through, because to begin with, the top gates would not open fully. Locks 1 and 2 are now cleared, thank you WI, Martin and all those involved in hauling and helping the boats. We have been informed by the Harbour and Line Masters that the advance fleet will start moving up through the next three locks on Thursday Oct 22nd.
22/10/09 Update: 72M and 4E made it through Locks 3, 4 and 5 by 13:30 today. 107B and 31B followed them up the Line later in the afternoon. Many thanks to WI, Martin and the Line Masters for assistance.
Barrow Line of Grand Canal

The dredging work underwritten by the Heritage Council will continue this winter on the Barrow Line of the Grand Canal, up to Lock 21 which is two locks below the Milltown Feeder.

28/10/2009 Update:

“Marine Notice No.112 of 2009 – Barrow Navigation

Waterways Ireland wishes to advise all Masters and Users of the Barrow Navigation that the Grand Canal Barrow Line will be closed to navigation from Monday 2nd November 2009 until 17th March 2010. This is to accommodate the winter dredging programme from Lock 21 Ballyteague to Lock 22 at Glenaree.

Any inconvenience that this may cause our customers is regretted. Please direct further queries to 00353 18823319”.

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