The scheme comprises five new box culvert road bridges, four locks three wholly or partially re-sited to take advantage of existing features and one refurbished, approximately 600 metres of canal channel construction and associated retaining/boundary walls and landscaping. There are extensive accommodation works especially where the canal will pass through the densely developed area between Caroline Street and Back Melbourne Street and through the main car park in Armentieres Square. Replacement car parking is being provided and the square with its new lock will be transformed into focal point of the town.

These first two pictures show the end of navigation at Mottram Road (top) and Staley Wharf (bottom) before work on the Stalybridge blockage began.

Starting from the Mottram Road end of the work, this picture shows excavation to extend the old lock 7w upstream which will allow room for the tow path to ramp down under the new Mottram Road Bridge. The original lock walls are visible.

The base of the upstream extension to lock 7w has been cast.

This shows the large excavation for phase 2 of the Mottram Road Bridge construction. Excavators are exposing the sewer which crosses from left to right. In the foreground the concrete base has been cast to carry the precast concrete culvert units.

This later photograph shows the reinforced concrete walls being built for the tail gates of lock 7w.

The lock gates for lock 7w were fitted on 20th November 2000. In this picture a tail gate balance beam is being swung into position. The lock-side paving to the left and the stone cladding to the curved towpath ramp wall on the right are complete.

Reinforced concrete wing wall construction at the western end of Mottram Road bridge. Lane closures and temporary traffic lights kept traffic moving on this busy stretch of the A6018.

With the first phase of the structure complete, facing stone is being laid to the wingwalls.

Mottram Road bridge was completed in late August 2000 and traffic returned to normal on the full width carriageway.

This aerial view, courtesy of Dew Construction, graphically illustrates the progress on channel construction through the former Delta site by April 2000.

Precast concrete retaining wall units have been laid to form the sides of the new canal channel beside the former corn mill. The Tesco store is taking shape on the far left. The bridge in the middle distance will be for servicing of the supermarket.

Where the canal passes through the former Delta Cables site it was constructed as part of the ground works for the new development. This photo shows the construction of the service bridge for the delivery of goods to the new Tesco Store.

This shows the steelwork frame for the new Tesco store and the canal channel in the foreground.

This later photograph taken from the new bridge which will give access between the supermarket car parks shows the canal channel nearing completion. A small excavator is spreading a clay protective layer over the rawmat used to line the channel and a long reach excavator is forming the final shape. The new Tesco's store is on the right hand side and the service bridge in the middle distance.

Next page: Armentieres Square and Lock 6w

Page 3: Melbourne Street, Lock 5w, Lock 4w and Caroline Street

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