New Selly Oak Aqueduct on the Worcs and Birmingham Canal

Friday, 20 January 2012 15:46

We have been hearing about this new bit of canal since we were last here in the winter of 2010. In fact we passed through the works when we left Birmingham. The Selly Oak Aqueduct is now well and truly open and I was looking forward to seeing what all the fuss has been about! 

Selly Oak moorings, a good spot to pop to Sainsbury's, but not for overnight

I knew the "new bit" was something to do with alleviating congestion and access to the new Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Sainsburys, and there certainly have been changes .....

But before we got to the new bit we had a railway bridge to negotiate.

Railway Bridge 81

We nearly did not get through. A combination of shallowness, narrowness, and length of bridge hole all served to bring us almost to a stop. 

We got through - and saw orange jackets ahead - what now?

Looking back you can see the bridge hole problem!

The men in orange were on the new aqueduct, fortunately only surveying; there was no problem with the new Selly Oak Aqueduct.

We had arrived at the "new bit of canal". There have been major works on the new Selly Oak bypass near the University of Birmingham and for a time the canal was moved to one side. A new aqueduct and railway bridge were required so BW, Birmingham City Council (BCC) and contractors Birse all got to work! 

We passed that way just before they diverted the canal way back in February 2010 and my blog about snow, cones and tyres from then makes interesting reading!

Passing under the temporary lift bridge we got stuck!

The opening ceremony was back in February last year. The aqueduct was named Ariel Aqueduct after the factory that once stood nearby, manufacturing Ariel bicycles, motorcycles and cars. The factory was closed in 1963 after 100 years of manufacturing. BCC Newsroom has more details on the development.

Narrowboat Epiphany approaches Ariel Aqueduct

Apparently the three span aqueduct holds 175, 000 gallons of water and up to 50 narrowboats /day will pass over it. So who stood and counted them? I am glad we are not going to be here in the "cruising season" if that is how busy the Worcester and Birmingham gets! I wonder how many trains/day will cross on the new bridge?

To our left was the new railway bridge and the new roundabout

To our right the new road cuts into the University Sports Ground

There is a splendid view of the University from the aqueduct: the Aston Webb Buildings around Chancellor's Court are beautiful and "Old Joe" stands proud surveying the scene that the clock tower's name sake and founder of the University, Victorian Joseph Chamberlain could only dream of. 

University of Brimingham from Ariel Aqueduct

Leaving the aqueduct behind, we continued on, catching a glimpse of the new Queen Elizabeth Hospital over the bank.

QE Hospital

We had more surprises to come before we made our mooring and we hoped the clouds ahead did not mean we would get wet!