Restoration: The Engineering Challenge

Completing the Millennium Link, bringing 110 km (69 miles) of canal and towpath back to life by Easter 2001 will involve: removing 33 obstructions, including 1.7km which has been infilled at Wester Hailes on the outskirts of Edinburgh - dredging  - renovating old locks and bridges repairing the banks - constructing a new link to the River Carron at Grangemouth - improving the towpaths - reconnecting the two canals at Falkirk.

The Forth & Clyde Canal was the world's first man-made sea-to-sea ship canal. When restored, it will have a navigable depth of 1.83m (6 ft) with a headroom restriction of 3.0m (9ft 8in). All 39 locks on the canal will be restored to working order.

The restored Union Canal, built originally as an inland waterway for barges, will have a navigable depth of 1.07m (3ft 6in) and a headroom restriction of 2.74m (9ft).

The locks on the Forth & Clyde and the wheel at Falkirk will be 20.12m (66ft) long.










When fully restored, the Millennium Link waterway will have:

• 100 bridges
• 49 aqueducts
• 35 locks
• 31 listed buildings
• 30 ancient monuments
• 2 tunnels
• 1 boat-lifting wheel