Floating Tractor Clears Standedge Tunnel
An amphibious tractor ventured into Standedge Tunnel recently to clear a blockage that built up during the recent floods, according to the UK Canal & River Trust.
The unusual work, which required the help of a specialist mining consultant, took two days to complete.
A hydraulic bucket on the front of the amphibious dredger, known as a Truxor, was used to clear the blockage so that boats will once again be able to navigate the 3¼ miles through the tunnel.
“Working deep underground in a tunnel on a floating dredger is quite unusual and poses many new problems which the team has successfully overcome in a short period of time,” said Mark Weatherall, senior project manager at the Canal & River Trust.
“Not only have we had to bring in specialist equipment, we’ve had to take specialist advice from a mining consultant who is experienced in confined spaces to make sure that the work was undertaken in a safe and efficient way.”
It is thought that during the unprecedented wet weather, approximately 8-9 cubic meters of sand, gravel and other debris were swept into the tunnel by a stream that flows into the tunnel about 250 meters from its entrance at Diggle.
[mappress mapid=”21965″]
List of related news articles
-
Posted: about 1 month ago
Backhoe Simson busy on Fehmarnbelt Tunnel project
Van Oord’s backhoe Simson dredged its first cubic meters last week on the impressive Fehmarnbelt Tun...
Posted: about 1 month ago -
Posted: 2 months ago
Gloucester Docks dredging starts
A project to remove approximately 12,000m3 of silt from Gloucester Docks and the canal between ...
Posted: 2 months ago -
Posted: 4 days ago
Mackley wraps up scour protection at Port of Southampton
Nearly 2,000t of stone has been used to complete a project to protect a key terminal at the Port of ...
Posted: 4 days ago -
Posted: 14 days ago
Antwerp deal for Boskalis consortium Rinkoniên
The major subproject of the Oosterweel link in Antwerp, Belgium has been awarded to the Rinkoniên co...
Posted: 14 days ago