A week in the Ocean
A week in the Ocean
by: Andy P.
Now for something slightly different. We have been waiting for weeks in order to get permission to repair the Ocean towpath wall from the bridge to the new railway bridge. Finally Griffiths and Network rail allowed us on site to repair a “few stones” before the Ocean was refilled.
A joint team effort with SDC volunteers and ourselves over the week allowed the “few stones “to be examined, dug out, repaired and replaced. Jon P’s team placed trench plates on top of the metres worth of mud within the canal. Fortunately this worked, as things had dried out whilst the railway bridge was installed.
Over the 4 days many coping stones had to be lifted, cut to size and mortar back into place. Concrete was laid behind them to give more support.
We also discovered that the brickwork joining onto the new bridge ramparts would probably be below the canal water line-not a good idea. Therefore the level was raised by 2 layers of blocks-with each one carried along the towpath along with the mortar and concrete mixes.
A good joint effort to do the best we could in the time available before the Ocean gets refilled
The last time we will see this view. So over to the dredging team-there’s an awful lot to dig out.
