£2 billion has been spent on regenerating the British Waterways network over the past ten years. From the relining of large stretches of canal, to the restoration of the collapsed Standedge Tunnel that was originally deemed impossible, the engineers have been challenged every step of the way. Here, Stewart Sim gives an overview of the various projects that have been undertaken, detailing work on the rejuvenated Anderton Boat Lift and the state-of-the-art Falkirk Wheel
Linking cities, towns and villages, Britain’s 200-year old inland waterways were once the primary method of transporting goods and were the catalyst for the world’s first industrial revolution. The canals built were cutting-edge engineering solutions of their time, enabling inland waterways to flourish until the emergence of the railways in the 19th century.
Following post-world war decline and disuse, inland waterways are today enjoying a new role in twenty-first-century society. An important part of our heritage, canals and rivers are home to varied wild life habitats and are a leisure resource enjoyed by all