Hope for stranded canal boats with tunnel repair plan
BBCA temporary repair could allow stranded canal boats to move again after a road tunnel over the waterway was damaged during roadworks.
The damage happened at the 200-year-old tunnel on the Kennet and Avon Canal in Bath, beneath the A36 Beckford Road.
Bath and North East Somerset Council is proposing a "temporary shield" to let boats pass safely while a permanent repair is designed.
The Canal and River Trust said the design was being worked on and the canal section and towpath would "remain closed until further notice".
Contractors broke through the tunnel's brick roof on 9 October while carrying out roadworks for the council.
The closure has cut off the final mile (about 1.96km) of the canal from the rest of the network, leaving boaters unable to continue their journeys.
The timing has added to the problem, with boaters who usually spend the summer on the River Avon moving onto the canal to avoid flooding.
Boats are now crowding into the short stretch, with no way out except back onto the river.
The tunnel and towpath have been closed on safety grounds since the damage, while a one-lane closure remains in place on Beckford Road.
The road restrictions have caused long queues and prompted safety concerns.
Almost 1,000 people have signed a petition calling for nearby Sydney Road to be reopened to give drivers an alternative route. The road was turned into a liveable neighbourhood in 2024.
A Bath and North East Somerset Council spokesperson said: "Safety is our first priority and engineers are closely monitoring the bridge."
The council said the eastbound one-lane closure on Beckford Road would remain in place, along with the closure of the canal and adjacent towpath at the north end of Sydney Gardens.
The Canal and River Trust said it would provide another update when it had more information about the proposed temporary shield.
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