The Forth and Clyde Canal through Falkirk was until recently in a very bad state. Not a single one of the 13 locks in the town was in working order, and there were many serious road obstructions. This section was restored from Spring 1999 onwards, the work taking about 2 years altogether.

This picture shows the most serious of the road obstructions, Camelon Road, which is the main Glasgow to Falkirk road. At one time it crossed the canal on a swing bridge, but in the 60s this was taken away and replaced by a submerged culvert.

Lock 16 is the uppermost lock in the Falkirk flight. The bascule bridge which once carried Union Road over it was removed after the canal closed, and the new bridge cut right into the walls of the chamber.

A new bridge being built below lock 16 to replace the one cutting across the chamber. The canal through Falkirk has been drained and fenced off, and stretches of the towpath are closed. Taken 17/8/99.

Looking east along the drained canal towards Camelon Road. The trench in the canal bed is the first visible sign of a new lock which is to be built to lower the canal under Camelon Road. The black pipe is keeping the canal water flowing past the drained section. Taken 17/8/99.

Lock gate replacement is also an important part of the restoration. This photo of a lock with its gates in the bottom was taken by Dr Carl Moores.

Organised chaos at Bainsford Bridge, 24/7/2000. The road has been diverted over a temporary embankment while the old culvert is removed and a new bridge and lock built to take the canal under the road.

Looking down onto the new Merer's bridge, which is nearly complete, on the same day. The bridge was originally built right across lock 8; lock 8 has now been rebuilt to the west, allowing a navigable bridge to be constructed instead.

The new lock 11, taken 24/7/2000. Just beyond it, Camelon Road bridge is being rebuilt to give full headroom.

New Union Road bridge at the tail of lock 16, 24/7/2000. The bridge is now complete and traffic is flowing over it. The yellow machinery visible beyond it in this picture is busily working to demolish the old bridge so that the lock can be restored.

The more difficult obstructions of Camelon and Bainsford bridges were removed by spring 2001. This picture of Camelon Bridge was taken on 26/5/2001, shortly after the reopening flotilla had passed through (much to my annoyance - I was hoping to photograph the first boats for 38 years passing under but missed them by a few hours!)

This idyllic scene is in fact in the middle of Falkirk's industrial zone where lock 8 has been relocated to give headroom under Merers Bridge. Taken 26/5/2001

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