On The Level - Ian Bath

Restoration of the western end of the canal continues at a steady pace. The rewatering of levels that have been dry for 40 years or more has revealed numerous problems of leakage, resulting in the need for far more extensive repairs and relining of the channel than originally envisaged. Despite this, by the end of 2007 all such work was substantially complete. With the new road lifting bridge at Begnagh now in position only two culverted road crossings remain to be replaced and work on the one at Mosstown is already well underway. So what is the outlook for 2008?

In February 2007 the RCAG Executive Committee met with John Martin (CEO Waterways Ireland) and members of his team for a wide ranging discussion on the programme of work on the Royal. It was envisged at that time that the restoration of the western end of the canal would be completed by the summer of 2008. This we now know will not be the case, and a further meeting has been arranged to take place on 29th February this year when the Executive expects to be given an up-dated account of the position in relation to the official re-opening of the canal. One major unsolved problem could still be the provision of an adequate water supply. Although agreement has been reached for additional supplies to be taken from Lough Ennell, the responsibility for the implementation of this scheme resides with Westmeath County Council, and it has already met with various delays. Will this be up and running for 2009, who knows?

Also, having in mind all the very major channel restoration work that has been done at the western end, especially through unstable bog, Waterways Ireland considers that there is a need to have a "bedding-in" period of at least a few months. Considering the amount of time and energy it has taken to reach this point, one has to agree that it is wise to take such a precaution. Nevertheless, we still look forward to an "Opening" ceremony in the first half of 2009, even if it does mean that restrictions have to be put in place in relation to the number of craft initially using the canal. Moreover, although both the restoration of the sea lock and the construction of the new Mayor Street Luas bridge across Spencer Dock are due to be completed by the end of 2008, it will be difficult to reopen the dock to navigation before the other obstacles (Spencer Bridge and ESB cable) have been overcome. Thus through passage to the Liffey and on to the Grand canal is unlikely to be feasible for some time to come.

Waterways Ireland has already agreed that a small working group of interested parties will be set up to plan the reopening, and the RCAG look forward to taking part in this collaborative exercise.

 

Any news or information, please Email webmaster@royalcanal.net