Phase One: Grand Sluice

Preparatory works for the Grand Sluice Refurbishment have now begun.

Our contractors, Jackson Civil Engineering Ltd., are on site and have set up a compound behind the Boston Rowing Club. This will be used as their working area. A barge is also in position on the water to transport materials from the compound to Grand Sluice and is equipped with a crane that will be used during the works.

This summer’s work will involve installing stop log grooves in each of the three channels, preparing Grand Sluice for the main refurbishment works, which are scheduled to begin in summer 2026.

In May, the project team hosted drop in events within the community. These were held at both Fenside Community Centre and the Boston Market.

Over 50 people attended to learn more about the preparatory works that will be taking place this summer. These events provided an opportunity for people to ask questions and express any concerns, leading to many productive discussions.

Below, you can find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions from these events.

Grand Sluice FAQ's

Will these works include road closures?

Although there are no planned road closures, there will be short durations when our contractors will need to operate traffic marshals during the delivery of materials. These will be scheduled to cause as little disruption as possible.

Is aquatic weed flushing being considered?

Yes. The project team are now finalising designs for tilting gate flaps, which are planned to be installed on the new vertical lift gates. These new gates will be installed as part of the main works due to start in 2026. The aim of the tilting flaps is to improve the efficiency of aquatic weed flushing without losing as much water from the system as weed flushing does now.

We don't plan to open the sluice gates to flush weeds during our contractor's normal working hours (08:00 - 18:00) this summer. Instead, we'll coordinate with the Canal and Rivers Trust to do this in the evenings or during weekends when necessary.

A barge equipped with a crane that will be used during the Grand Sluice refurbishment preparatory works.