Chi Ship Canal to Re-open to the Sea.

[Mark-1]

I have very strong doubts if this is possible since two causeways would need to be replaced by bridges.

Also to get to the basin you'd need to get under the M27 bridge, which is so low I can touch it with my hand - so no Sunseekers!

Nice if it happened though:


http://www.chichester.co.uk/news/lo..._chichester_ship_canal_with_the_sea_1_3481149

 

[Moonshining]

I have very strong doubts if this is possible since two causeways would need to be replaced by bridges.

Also to get to the basin you'd need to get under the M27 bridge, which is so low I can touch it with my hand - so no Sunseekers!

Nice if it happened though:


http://www.chichester.co.uk/news/lo..._chichester_ship_canal_with_the_sea_1_3481149

A lock in the Witterings? Is this a different canal to the one that enters the harbour by the marina at Birdham?

They'll have to do a lot of work. The lock at the entrance to the harbour looks pretty rotten and further up towards the Birdham Road, a lock has been replaced with fixed concrete.

It does sound like a pipe-dream to me.

 

[rotrax]

A lock in the Witterings? Is this a different canal to the one that enters the harbour by the marina at Birdham?

They'll have to do a lot of work. The lock at the entrance to the harbour looks pretty rotten and further up towards the Birdham Road, a lock has been replaced with fixed concrete.

It does sound like a pipe-dream to me.

If you think that take a look at the website for the Wilts and Berks Canal trust. Bits have been filled in and had roads built over it. The trust has got many miles back to a usable state and has serious plans to link it back to the Thames at Abingdon.

 

[Twister_Ken]

If you think that take a look at the website for the Wilts and Berks Canal trust. Bits have been filled in and had roads built over it. The trust has got many miles back to a usable state and has serious plans to link it back to the Thames at Abingdon.

Did the Wilts and Berks have to cope with a four lane A-road bridge, with rugger-ball headroom where it crosses the canal?

 

[rotrax]

Did the Wilts and Berks have to cope with a four lane A-road bridge, with rugger-ball headroom where it crosses the canal?

Even more complicated than that-and all done by Trust members! Goes under the M4...........

 

[Twister_Ken]

Even more complicated than that-and all done by Trust members! Goes under the M4...........

Did they raise the motorway or lower the canal?

(I do think it's a great idea and should be supported - Chichester could become a sort of equivalent of Vannes, in the Morbihan. But it would require some serious infrastructure investment to get sea-going vessels up to Chi).

 

[fireball]

Did they raise the motorway or lower the canal?

(I do think it's a great idea and should be supported - Chichester could become a sort of equivalent of Vannes, in the Morbihan. But it would require some serious infrastructure investment to get sea-going vessels up to Chi).

It'd give you a whole new area in Chi harbour to go aground!

 

[DJE]

Did they raise the motorway or lower the canal?

(I do think it's a great idea and should be supported - Chichester could become a sort of equivalent of Vannes, in the Morbihan. But it would require some serious infrastructure investment to get sea-going vessels up to Chi).

On the Forth-Clyde they lower the canal!

A mast-up route to Chi would be a bit of a challenge to build though. The bypass is bad enough as it is without lifting bridge delays.

 

[prv]

Bit disappointing that the local residents apparently expect us to pour oil in the canal, **** over the side, then engage in rowdy drunken behaviour.

(comment on the newspaper article)

Pete

 

[Mark-1]

If you think that take a look at the website for the Wilts and Berks Canal trust. Bits have been filled in and had roads built over it. The trust has got many miles back to a usable state and has serious plans to link it back to the Thames at Abingdon.

I think the A27 bridge is fixed forever, but maybe adding locks and lowering the canal under it might be possible. Failing that a second basin could be constructed South of the A27 Bridge on the East side for the majority of vessels which would be unable to get under the A27.

Which leaves the difficulty of replacing the two causeways with bridges which seems insurmountable to me. They're both very busy roads so I can imagine massive opposition to any disruption while a bridge is added. The new bridges would either need to be swing bridges with the associated disruption or would need to be high enough to allow a reasonable size boat through which would be unsightly and expensive (and no chance of mast air draught). Not to mention the cost which would surely be astronomical.

Maybe swing bridges open twice a day? Say 10:30am and 3:45pm?

Hopefully I'm wrong but it all seems pie-in-the-sky to me.

 

[DJE]

Maybe swing bridges open twice a day? Say 10:30am and 3:45pm?

That's how the French do it on the Caen canal. One convoy each way per day.

 

[Tidewaiter2]

Bit disappointing that the local residents apparently expect us to pour oil in the canal, **** over the side, then engage in rowdy drunken behaviour.

(comment on the newspaper article)

Pete

Wel, he's probably berthed in Gunwharf on a Saturday night himself, and is afraid of Pompey's revenge

 

[prv]

Maybe swing bridges open twice a day? Say 10:30am and 3:45pm?

I don't know the area exactly, but if it's anywhere near Chichester Harbour the times would presumably need to vary with the tide. Probably with a no-lift window covering morning and evening (road-going) rush-hours.

Pete

 

[VicS]

The traffic congestion on that section of the A27 (not M27) is so bad that no one would notice if it were closed for a couple of years or so while new bridge is built to take the road over ( or under ) the canal and the nearby A286, Stockbridge road, roundabout

Something like the road passing under the canal outside Carentan perhaps
http://g.co/maps/cyhx8

 

[Poignard]

That's how the French do it on the Caen canal. One convoy each way per day.

If you go to Carentan you sail (or motor) across an aqueduct over a main road.

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/59086783

(Pipped at the post by VicS )

 

[Mark-1]

I don't know the area exactly, but if it's anywhere near Chichester Harbour the times would presumably need to vary with the tide. Probably with a no-lift window covering morning and evening (road-going) rush-hours.

Pete

I think you couldn't vary bridge opening with the tide. A swing bridge opening between 7 and 9am would result in a lynching! And I would be one of the people putting the boot in!

The canal's only 2m. I would guess they'd dredge the entrance to 2m at LWS. They do roughly that at Chi Marina. Given the astronomical budget required for the rest of the works it would be a doddle.

 

[robp]

I have been wondering for the last couple of seasons, how far I could get up to Chi from Chi Marina on a small rib. Or vice versa. Or whether it would be allowed even. There are some nice looking patches around the Hunston area. I'll have to contact the society.

 

[oldharry]

Nice idea, but huge practical difficulties as already pointed out.

One glimmer of hope is that for a number of years there have been plans to re-route the A27 (its not Mway this far east) to the north of Chichester, as the bypass is too big a bottleneck already. Would almost certainly have started by now if it wasn't for the banks screwing the economy. That would solve that problem, but I cant see communities using the other two roads being happy about more and longer delays.

Nor do I understand the references to the Witterings. Don't the Canal Trust know where the canal actually is? Doesn't inspire much confidence really...

 

[Mark-1]

I have been wondering for the last couple of seasons, how far I could get up to Chi from Chi Marina on a small rib. Or vice versa. Or whether it would be allowed even. There are some nice looking patches around the Hunston area. I'll have to contact the society.

If the RIB is small enough to carry for road crossings etc you can easy get to the Basin from the Sea. I think you need some kind of permit for the canal but it's certainly allowed. You see the odd canoe on the canal and the Trust Boats but it seems rather under utilized so a rib tootling would be a welcome change from my POV.

 

[maxi77]

Nice idea, but huge practical difficulties as already pointed out.

One glimmer of hope is that for a number of years there have been plans to re-route the A27 (its not Mway this far east) to the north of Chichester, as the bypass is too big a bottleneck already. Would almost certainly have started by now if it wasn't for the banks screwing the economy. That would solve that problem, but I cant see communities using the other two roads being happy about more and longer delays.

Nor do I understand the references to the Witterings. Don't the Canal Trust know where the canal actually is? Doesn't inspire much confidence really...

The Forth and Clyde canal goes under the Dumbarton road with a drop lock, works very well, and the Union Canal was rerouted to pass under the M8, quite clever for a contour canal.