After the Union Canal closed in 1965, the original Vellore Road bridge (number 51) was replaced by an embankment with a small Armco culvert through it, leaving only about 4'6" headroom. This was the first Union Canal blockage to be restored by the Millennium Link project; by February 2000, the new bridge 51 was completed (although it was another few months before it opened to boat traffic).

This picture shows the old Vellore Road culvert from the west side, before restoration work started.

The construction site on 18/5/99, from the road on the south side. The road and canal have been temporarily closed, and the old culvert has been completely demolished. The stonework under the red and white polythene sheets on the left of the picture is the remains of the original bridge 51, which have been buried inside the embankment for 30 years.

This view of the site from the west side on 10/8/99 shows very good progress, with the abutments of the new bridge now clearly visible.

The completed bridge, February 2000. By the time this picture was taken, traffic on the road was flowing over the bridge but the canal was still blocked off on either side of it. Photo courtesy of Dr Carl Moores.

The bridge was opened to canal traffic in May. This photo of the finished bridge was taken on 18/6/2000.

to the main canal page