The Failsworth portion of the Rochdale Canal is still closed to boaters after two weeks of closure.

The canal closed on the morning of Friday, May 26 due to a blown cill at Lock 73, located near Ten Acres Lane in Monsall.

Navigation for boaters has been closed between Lock 65, in Failsworth, and Lock 81, in Miles Platting, for weeks.

The Oldham Times: Lock 65Lock 65 (Image: Michael Ely, Creative Commons CC BY-SA 2.0)

In an update posted on the Canal & River Trust website on Friday, June 9, the Trust said: “Works are progressing well to repair the blown cill at Lock 73 on the Rochdale Canal and our team are back onsite today pouring the remaining concrete to refit the cill and arrowhead.

“The concrete will then need to cure over the weekend period, with our contractors scheduled to remove the scaffolding on Monday.

“Following this, and subject to a testing period, the fabric dams will be removed Tuesday morning to allow navigation to resume by Tuesday afternoon.

“A further update will be provided Tuesday 13 June.”

The Oldham Times: Map of the closureMap of the closure (Image: Google/Canal & River Trust)

Access to the towpath remains open.

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Cills are protruding stones or concrete ledges below water close to a lock gate.

Usually near the top gate at the higher end of the chamber, unaware boaters can have their rudder get stuck on the cill when travelling down the gradient, or the bow of their boat can get stuck on it when travelling up the canal.

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The Oldham Times: Top lock cill on the Northgate flight, Shropshire Union CanalTop lock cill on the Northgate flight, Shropshire Union Canal (Image: John S Turner, Creative Commons CC BY-SA 2.0)

This can mean that one part of the boat will continue descending in the lock, while the rest of the boat is stuck, which can cause damage.

Damage to the cill itself can cause leaks.