Manchester Ship Canal Sluices Get Makeover

The huge sluice gates responsible for controlling water levels between the River Mersey and its near neighbour, Manchester’s Ship Canal, are seeing their first major facelift for more than a century.

The 10 gates that make up Weaver Sluice, located in the canal embankment to the south-west of Runcorn, Cheshire, were built towards the end of the nineteenth century when both the British Empire and Victorian engineering were at their height.

However, 130 years on from their grand opening, time has taken its toll on Cheshire’s amazing feat of engineering requiring a double effort by HBPW and AmcoGiffen to give them a new lease of life.

Engineer Jacob Clark, said: “Weaver Sluice, built around 1890, is part of the Manchester Ship Canal (MSC) water management system and is owned and operated by Peel Ports.

“There are 10 separate gates, each measuring approximately 9.5m x 5.5m and numbered one to 10 from south to north, as well as a series of stoplogs which perform a similar function to the gates but serve as a back-up system, should any of them fail.

“Time has taken its toll on the overall structure, prompting the need for a programme of refurb and replacement work which we have completed in partnership with AmcoGiffen, ensuring Weaver Sluice continues to perform its function of managing water levels on both the river and canal side for decades to come.”

Work includes refurbishment or replacement of gantries above gates one and 10; repair of their abutments and a series of additional works to gates one, two and 10 including the refurbishment of a high-level and a separate low-level crane; replacement of pedestrian walkways and removal of a disused crane rail also running above gates one, two and 10.

“When you see the size of Weaver Sluice – particularly the individual gates – and realise what technology has been required to complete these latest remedial works – which remain in progress – it makes the original Victorian engineering achievement that much greater. In those days they had minimal technology but incredible focus, vision and a ‘can-do’ mentality with seemingly showed little fear of engineering’s unknown boundaries!”

Client:                 Peel Ports

Contractor:        AmcoGiffen