(Photo: Costain Ltd.)

Looking west along the tunnel towards the new Lock 2E. A small excavator is on the right of the picture. Skips carried the tunnel spoil along a narrow rail track to the entrance, where their contents were lifted by crane.

The tunnel below Bates and Co has now been excavated. This picture is looking east. The tunnel has been constructed by sinking two rows of concrete piles. The tunnel roof between the piles was then built, enabling the buildings to be returned to use. The tunnel was dug out from the western end. Smoother concrete will be applied to the rough walls. The metal protrusions just above the floor show where the re-inforcements for the concrete base slab will be attached.

The excavation of the tunnel is complete. This picture is looking up from the mouth of the tunnel to the archway of Queen Street bridge.

The same view, with the channel eastwards having been excavated. The channel will be wide enough for two boats to pass. The sheet piles form the walls of this channel. The curved struts that will permanently span the channel can be seen.

Looking west from the tunnel, towards the new Lock 2E, with its gates now in place.

Looking eastwards into the tunnel, with the fenders or rubbing strips along the sides. There are several feet of water in the tunnel, which was ready to be filled to its final level when the canal opened.

Next page: New Lock 2E

My thanks to Costain Ltd for providing access to take these photographs.

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