RunAgroundHard
Well-known member
I think they manage the bridges so there is always road access for emergency vehicles if one bridge becomes unavailable to traffic. That is a recollection from a previous comment.
Crinan Canal 2024
- Thread starter Quandary
- Start date
I think they manage the bridges so there is always road access for emergency vehicles if one bridge becomes unavailable to traffic. That is a recollection from a previous comment.
bikedaft
Well-known member
that is what i was told, decades ago. but having never seen the wee bridge shut in years, not sure how this works now? the wee bridge also looks rusty and unloved. maybe it does work?? the planks look rotten too, although that could be superficial.
SaltIre
Well-known member
That was certainly the rule in place at Ardrishaig when I worked on the canal in the late 1970s. We weren't allowed to have the bridge on the main road and the one over lock 4 closed to traffic simultaneously - something the impatient yachties accepted when told... That wasn't the case at Cairnbaan/Dunardry, and Bikedaft makes a valid point. The "diversion route" would be via Bellanoch Bridge, but there wasn't a rule affecting it either. I spent a fair amount of time at Dunardry & Bellanoch Bridges - 45 years ago!
From 2021:
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ylop
Well-known member
The diversion when the Cairnbaan bridge breaks (and it does break) is via Bellanoch bridge. I'm not sure if they have a specific rule about not opening both at once like they do (and still did last year) at Ardrishaig / Lock4. Bellanoch bridge has a weight limit that would be problematic for most fire engines. Dunardy would not be any better - and I doubt you'd want to take anything big down the "tow path" anyway.
But rural Scotland's emergency services are quite used to managing access difficulties - bridges get washed away, trees fall down, landslides block roads, lorry's blow over, ferry services have weather/engine issues, and floods, snow block off roads quite frequently etc.
bikedaft
Well-known member
I am alas well aware of how unorganised the response can be to such recurring events, and how long it takes for information to reach the relevant emergency services...
RunAgroundHard
Well-known member
Dunardry Bridge repair is the sort of thing a local community or volunteer group could do, at a reduced cost with minimum burden on the local council or waterways. It can’t be that hard to remove, investigate and refurbish with skilled goodwill.
ylop
Well-known member
Its not exactly a bustling metropolis... I'm struggling to image what local group would see a benefit from this (given pedestrians and cyclists can cross the lock gates anyway, and the road doesn't really go anywhere, indeed the dozen houses on that bit of canal side might prefer it as a dead end. So the only reason I could see someone being interested is a historical/heritage one... Perhaps a disabled access group? But if I remember rightly it was more of a hindrance to the other yacht we shared a lock with than anything (their shore crew were in the wrong place to catch lines and then getting past the bridge with the bow line was a fankle).
SaltIre
Well-known member
If the bridge gets fixed Scottish Canals then needs to provide somebody to operate it, so I guess it might suit them for it to be broken...
bikedaft
Well-known member
indeed
Martin&Rene
Active member
Re Peter's comments in Post 58, that was our trip and everything he says is correct. We finally got some minor assistance from the grass cutters on locks 12 & 13, only after I had gone to ask them. Peter used a number of "non typical" canal practices to lower the water in the pounds so that "we" together could open the gates.
Congrats to Peter, as the canal was so quiet (high prices?) that every lock was set against us, so a lot of work was involved.
Congrats to Peter, as the canal was so quiet (high prices?) that every lock was set against us, so a lot of work was involved.
Peter Pilot
Member
There are far more important issues on the canal. Locks 7, 9, 10 and 11 leak badly so the gates require urgent replacement. The amount of water being wasted is truly horrific. Many of the sluices require serious maintenance, especially those at locks 12 and 13 (recently new gates.)
The bridge would serve no purpose and only create another obstacle to negotiate. The turn in off the main road would be very tight, even more than Bellanoch.
RunAgroundHard
Well-known member
I am not suggesting it is a priority, but propose that it could be repaired outside the current management structure, if there was a will. If there is no will, it will continue to fall to bits. Clearly, others think that it should be repaired:-
Unique Dunardry Bridge needs repair - The Inland Waterways Association
The stuff you state is a priority is irrelevant to the suggestion.
Peter Pilot
Member
Do you think the canal being open is irrelevant to whether the bridge should be refurbished?
I personally would like to see the bridge refurbished because it is unique, but would you like to see the bridge repaired but the canal closed because they run out of water due to millions of litres of water leaking away every day through the aforementioned lock gates? The birds nesting on the two main reservoirs mean that they cannot be used to supply the canal. It is a major issue and severe draft restrictions and boat movement restrictions could easily come into force. This week the staff were told that there would be no single lock-ins.
Canal traffic is 40% down according to the manager in a conversation with a skipper yesterday. Seriously huge subsidies keep the canal open. There is a lot of urgent refurbishment required. A number of people opine that the canal may close within the next 10 years
Perhaps the local council could have spent the £80,000 they spent on a kayak crossing at Ardrishaig, which shows no signs of being used, on the bridge?
RunAgroundHard
Well-known member
The bridge has nothing to do with the canal priorities. I suggest it would be a project done independently of the canal authorities if there was a will. That is it. You're conflating two very different things into one idea, as if one is dependent on the other, which was not my point at all. There are lots of things that get refurbished by well meaning folks and groups independent of official organisations which are incredibly more complicated than this bridge.
Aja
Well-known member
OK. Here's my update. En route to Ardrishaig got a call from @Quandry explaining I should lock in later that day (Wednesday) as the sealock won't let me in at 09:00 Thursday morning due to LWS.
Headed straight to Ardrishaig and locked in at 14:00 and with @Quandry in assistance went up to Lock 4 on my own. Had a bit of a wait between locks 3 and 4 to let school runs take place.
Alongside at Lock 4 met wife off the 20:50 bus from Glasgow.
This morning saw 5 boats on the holding pontoon that had presumably diverted due to forecast. When we left lock 4 for Cairnbaan at 09:30 they were still on the pontoon.
We transited alone. At times there were 3 SC staff assisting plus @Quandry. Only at lock 9 was there only one SC staff.
A couple of boats went eastwards and staff timed it so locks were always set up, except at second lock at Dunadry.
As we were the only boat going west it was a remarkably quick and easy transit. Sitting in Crinan basin at 13:45 is good going.
As @Quandry says the SC staff are in the main wanting to help us through but what about next year? It still requires coordination, but if today was anything to go on a very enjoyable transit.
Are we heading out this afternoon? Not bloody likely with this unseasonably deep depression that's going through.
Headed straight to Ardrishaig and locked in at 14:00 and with @Quandry in assistance went up to Lock 4 on my own. Had a bit of a wait between locks 3 and 4 to let school runs take place.
Alongside at Lock 4 met wife off the 20:50 bus from Glasgow.
This morning saw 5 boats on the holding pontoon that had presumably diverted due to forecast. When we left lock 4 for Cairnbaan at 09:30 they were still on the pontoon.
We transited alone. At times there were 3 SC staff assisting plus @Quandry. Only at lock 9 was there only one SC staff.
A couple of boats went eastwards and staff timed it so locks were always set up, except at second lock at Dunadry.
As we were the only boat going west it was a remarkably quick and easy transit. Sitting in Crinan basin at 13:45 is good going.
As @Quandry says the SC staff are in the main wanting to help us through but what about next year? It still requires coordination, but if today was anything to go on a very enjoyable transit.
Are we heading out this afternoon? Not bloody likely with this unseasonably deep depression that's going through.
ctva
Well-known member
Re the bridges, The two bridges that are 'interlocked' for Kintyre access are Ardrishaig and Cairnbaan. They can only open one at a time as these are the only two road accesses (ok, one is a forrestry road) to the peninsula. Has always been the case.
As to Dunardry bridge, this was regularly damaged by a farmer taking too heavy a load over, despite the signed weight limits and being told, so Scottish Canals stopped fixing it.
As to Dunardry bridge, this was regularly damaged by a farmer taking too heavy a load over, despite the signed weight limits and being told, so Scottish Canals stopped fixing it.
We all see our own truths, so all subjective.
Quandary
Well-known member
Chris, Not sure that you are correct here, I have never experienced the Cairnbaan Bridge being restricted by the operation of either of the bridges in Ardrishaig (or elsewhere on the canal). However the two bridges in Ardrishaig, at the sea lock and over lock 4 are controlled with only one open at any time. This is to ensure that an ambulance or fire engine has emergency access to the west side of the village and also provides a traffic diversion to mitigate the much slower lockings that are allowed nowadays.
The old Dunardry bridge is an interesting project requiring simple carpentry and blacksmithing skills but it was always a bloody nuisance to operate and maintain and I am sure that SC are much happier to have it permanently open to boats.
awol
Well-known member
Almost transitted on Sunday. Arrived at Ardrishaig sea lock at 16.20 on Saturday and sat on the waiting pontoon all night. 4 boats moved in together and all was well till Cairnbaan when we came up against a group of 3 boats, 2 of which were clueless. Started moving again when they were 2 locks ahead but stalled at the top of the Dunardry flight. Opened and closed gates and sluices for them while the canal staff had lunch just to keep moving but still didn't get to Crinan basin till 16.40. I feel the days of 6 hour transits have gone and the 4 hour yins a fable to tell the grandkids.
Aja
Well-known member
That's hardly the fault of the SC staff. They can't account for the ineptitude of yachties.
Peter Pilot
Member
I recorded my transit times for Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
A basin to C basin: 8 hours 20 minutes,
the Rings (between lock 14 and Crinan Bridge) to Ardrishaig basin: 7 hours 35 minutes,
Pontoon above lock 14 to Ardrishaig basin 8 hours 5 minutes.
All three skippers enjoyed their transits.
A big shout out for Stephen who was working at the Ardrishaig end. His first year with the canal and already a real asset. Two other newcomers that also need a mention are Barry and Shaun who usually work on the Cairnbaan flight.
Staying over night on the rings was very peaceful and it's only a 5 minutes walk to the facilities at the Crinan basin. My favourite place to spend a night on the canal.
Taking a very smart Multicat 44 through today from the lock 4 pontoon.
A basin to C basin: 8 hours 20 minutes,
the Rings (between lock 14 and Crinan Bridge) to Ardrishaig basin: 7 hours 35 minutes,
Pontoon above lock 14 to Ardrishaig basin 8 hours 5 minutes.
All three skippers enjoyed their transits.
A big shout out for Stephen who was working at the Ardrishaig end. His first year with the canal and already a real asset. Two other newcomers that also need a mention are Barry and Shaun who usually work on the Cairnbaan flight.
Staying over night on the rings was very peaceful and it's only a 5 minutes walk to the facilities at the Crinan basin. My favourite place to spend a night on the canal.
Taking a very smart Multicat 44 through today from the lock 4 pontoon.
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