Navigation work
Projects focus on refurbishing locks on the Nene and Great Ouse rivers
Benefits for recreational boaters on some of the most peaceful and unspoilt waterways in Britain.
Our impact
90
Miles of navigable waterway on the Nene
38
Locks from Northampton to Peterborough
22
Locks on the River Great Ouse
Silt-busting at Denver Sluice in Norfolk.
Messing about on the water
Flowing through Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire, the River Nene is an important regional navigation linking the Grand Union Canal to the Great Ouse. Originally a commercial navigation, it is now used almost entirely for recreation.
Likewise, the Great Ouse, which runs through Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, is a favourite with boaters who enjoy messing about on the water. Both rivers flow through some of the most peaceful and unspoilt waterway locations in Britain, offering a wide range of natural and historical sites and pretty rural towns to visit.
On the Great Ouse, there are 22 locks along its 158 miles of navigable water while on the Nene there are 90 miles of navigable waterway with 38 locks between Northampton and Peterborough.
Balancing act: Vehicle movements are restricted to protect wildlife including over-wintering as well as nesting birds.
Refurbishment work at Warmington Lock in Northants.
River lock refurbishment
Most locks in this region have pointing doors (sometimes called ‘V-doors’) at the upstream end, and vertical guillotine gates at the downstream end.
For a number of years Jackson has overseen the refurbishment of these locks on the River Nene and nearby River Ouse on behalf of the Environment Agency.
Exposed to the elements, the locks need this maintenance to ensure they remain operational. We work closely with our expert supply chain partners to carry out a broad range of work that includes lock drain downs and removal of silt, comprehensive repair works, access improvement, mechanical works including new actuators and adjustments and re-painting of the gate structures.
Floods and innovation
For the most part, these projects are seasonal, taking place in the autumn and winter months when recreational boating ceases, and completing by Easter when the watercraft once again take to the rivers.
This does mean projects are hostage to the vagaries of the winter weather and flooding and high-water warnings are an occupational hazard that can put work on hold.
Where possible, Jackson looks to innovate on these projects to improve efficiency and health and safety.
Recent innovations include trialling underwater cameras for lock surveys; incorporating lifting beams into scaffolding structures; using pontoons to gain easier access to structures and laying cold mix resin-bound asphalt on lock paths to reduce waste and make transportation to site easier.
Improving access at Dog-in-a-Doublet Lock near Peterborough.
