One of the largest blockages on the Forth and Clyde Canal was at Great Western Road between Glasgow and Clydebank. Here, almost half a mile of canal (including locks 31 and 32) was filled in, and two roads (Great Western Road and Blairdardie Road) were built over it. Now this obstruction has been removed.

The canal disappeared into the ground just above lock 31.

It was infilled for almost half a mile between lock 31 and Great Western Road. This picture shows the view along the line of the canal towards the infilled locks.

The canal emerged again just below Great Western Road. This photo shows the canal's reappearance from the road embankment.

In March 1999, work began to reopen the canal through this section. This photo, taken 12/7/99, shows the view along the line of the infilled canal to Great Western Road, where a bridge to take the road over the canal is in the early stages of construction.

The original plan was to reinstate the canal along its old line, but when asbestos was discovered in the infill, it was decided that a safer option would be to realign the canal to the west, bypassing the original cut. This photo, taken on 5/3/2000 by Dr Carl Moores, shows the new canal. The road next to it is the new Blairdardie Road, which has also been realigned as part of the work.

A footbridge has been built across the canal on the site of the original Blairdardie Road crossing. Photo courtesy of Dr Carl Moores.

This photo, taken 20/3/2000, shows lock 31 at the top of the infilled section. This lock was until recently almost completely covered over. It has now been dug out and is being restored - the paler coloured stone on its walls shows where they have been patched up.

By late summer 2000, the works on this section were complete. This picture, taken 22/10/2000, shows the new bridge taking Great Western Road over the canal.

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