A new 65-metre floating walkway in Camden is keeping the busiest canal towpath in the country open for thousands of weekly visitors to the Regent’s Canal, whilst important heritage repairs are undertaken to an historic canal bridge.
Heritage repairs to the Grade II Listed Interchange Basin Towpath Bridge, known locally as ‘Dead Dog bridge’, got underway last month. And while the Canal & River Trust charity specialists undertake the repair work, the floating walkway will ensure the towpath remains available for boaters using the nearby canal lock and the thousands of weekly visitors who use and enjoy the canal through Camden.
The £533,000 heritage repair of the Victorian bridge by the Trust has been made possible by an award from Postcode Earth Trust thanks to funds raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. To date, over £16 million has been raised by People’s Postcode Lottery players to support the charitable work of Canal & River Trust across England and Wales.
The repairs to ‘Dead Dog bridge’, which are due to be completed by the end of March 2023, will include: restoration of the bridge’s wrought iron lattice parapets; cleaning of the underlying cast iron beams; and cleaning and repointing the abutments and approach parapets.
Spencer Green, Canal & River Trust project manager, explains: “Built in 1846, ‘Dead Dog bridge’ is an important local landmark carrying the Regent’s Canal towpath across the canal basin beneath the Camden Interchange Warehouse, and is the busiest canal footbridge in the country with over one million visitors each year.
“To minimise disruption to boaters accessing the nearby canal lock and the thousands of weekly towpath visitors while the bridge is closed for its 10-week restoration, we’ve installed a temporary floating towpath alongside the bridge.”
Ros Daniels, the Canal & River Trust’s director for London & South East, explains: “Camden is a particularly popular spot on London’s historic canal network and is visited by boaters, locals and visitors from all over the world. We know that spending time next to London’s canals improves our mental and physical health and wellbeing, so this restoration project by our charity is part of the ongoing important work to protect and preserve this special place.
“The Interchange Basin Towpath Bridge, known locally as ‘Dead Dog’ bridge is a key route for people using the canal through Camden and with over one million visits each year, is the busiest bridge on our network. Now over 175 years old, the bridge’s striking wrought iron lattice parapets will be lovingly restored, made possible thanks to the players of People’s Postcode Lottery. The works will ensure this historic bridge continues to carry millions of visitors enjoying the Regent’s Canal in Camden, for many years to come.”
To find out more about the ‘Dead Dog’ bridge repair project, go to https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/deaddogbridge, call the Canal & River Trust on 03030 404040 or email customer.services@canalrivertust.org.uk
For more information on Canal & River Trust including how you can donate money or volunteer to support our work visit www.canalrivertrust.org.uk