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British Waterways ‘Millennium Link’ canal project is the largest UK canal
restoration ever. It reconnects the Forth & Clyde and Union Canals
allowing unhindered passage of traffic between Glasgow and Edinburgh.
The centrepiece to this project is the Falkirk Wheel - the world’s
first rotating boatlift. The 35m high, 1500 tonne machine transports canal
barges and other boats between the Forth & Clyde and the Union Canal, a vertical
drop of 18 metres. Before the closure of the canals in the mid 20th century this
transfer was achieved by a flight of eleven locks.
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First structure of its kind in the world. |
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Design life of at least 120 years. |
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35 metres high. |
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35 metres wide. |
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30 metres long. |
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Each gondola contains at least 250,000 litres of water. |
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Capable of carrying eight boats at a time. |
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A single trip takes 15 minutes. |
Bachy/Soletanche and Morrison Construction Joint
Venture won the contract to design and construct a new section of canal, a
tunnel beneath the Antonine wall, a section of aqueduct, the wheel and receiving
basin. In turn the Joint Venture appointed Butterley Engineering to design and
construct the wheel. Butterley undertook all construction work for the wheel and
set up its own team to carry out the design work. This team comprised Tony Gee
and Partners, to undertake the structural design responsibilities and M G
Bennett & Associates to design the mechanical and electrical equipment for the
wheel.
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