Leeds-Liverpool Canal Link
The Leeds - Liverpool Canal is being extended across the Pier Head in front of the world famous three graces and into South Docks.
Currently, the 126 mile long Leeds & Liverpool Canal ends next to the Tobacco Warehouse at Stanley Dock.
The £17 million link will now open up another 1.4 miles of navigable waterway to canal going craft and will provide a new focal point at Pier Head, creating a vibrant water space to enhance the relationship between the canal and surrounding public areas.
The work began in earnest in January 2007, with the existing trees being felled (they will eventually be replaced by specimens more suitable for a maritime climate) and the statues have been taken into storage. The new Canal Link is planned to open at the end of the year in readiness for the Capital of Culture celebrations in 2008.
Individual elements include control structures, renovation of river locks, modernisation of pumping system, dredging, channel widening, construction of new lock and bridge at Princes Dock, excavation of Pier Head channel and construction of associated landscaping, and works at Mann Island to integrate with proposals for new museum and mixed use development.
The new canal link will:
- Create business opportunities based around tourism and leisure;
- Support proposals for the development of Central Docks ;
- Achieve approximately £4.7m additional expenditure within Merseyside;
- Attract 200,000 additional visitors per annum to the Albert Dock area;
- Create 173 new jobs;
- Bring added vibrancy and activity to the Pier Head and South Docks;
- Stimulate the re-use of sites and buildings which have an historic and heritage value;
- Support environmental improvements at the Pier Head;
- Provide benefits to the water coastal habitat and environment;
- Expose buried historic dock wall features and reinstate associated heritage features.
The majority of the link is currently surrounded by derelict land and work on it will not affect the general public. A detail plan dividing the area into discrete zones to ensure that access is maintained to all buildings by owners and occupiers, members of the public and emergency services is being developed.
Project details can be found at http://www.liverpoolcanallink.co.uk (will open a new window)
Map showing project location
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