July update on the Teddington Launch Lock refurbishment project

Refurbishment is progressing at both ends of the lock, with damaged sections being carefully excavated. The Environment Agency's (EA) contractor has reinforced the walls using steel rods, and this work is now nearly complete.

New concrete foundation walls are being built, and steel recesses (quoins) have been constructed into the lock walls to facilitate the operation of the lock gates. This aspect has proven particularly challenging due to the precision required. In certain cases, dimensional tolerances must be maintained to within ±1mm to ensure correct operation of the lock mechanism.

The project is particularly difficult due to the lock being over 100 years old. The EA was only able to fully understand its condition and take accurate measurements after the water was drained and detailed scans were carried out earlier this year. It is likely that over the years, part of the structure has changed from our as-built records, meaning the current design has needed to be adjusted as construction progresses to make sure everything is fit for modern purpose.

As a result, the complexity of the design and reconstruction work means the project is taking longer than originally expected.

Off-site, the lock gates are undergoing refurbishment at the factory and will be reinstalled at the lock later this summer.

The EA's next steps focus on installing new supporting structures in preparation for reinstalling the lock gates later this summer. At the same time, detailed planning is underway for the testing that will be needed once the gates are reinstalled. The gates need to be tested both when the lock is empty and when it is filled with water. This means the lock chamber will need to be filled and drained several times. Testing will be carried out on the new mechanical and electrical equipment being installed to make sure everything is working properly.

The EA's project team has been working hard to get the lock back in operation by the end of the boating season.

However, due to the complexity of the refurbishment and the extent of the structural improvements required, this is now unlikely to be achieved. It is currently anticipated that the lock will be back in operation in the autumn. Some additional works will continue at site beyond lock’s re-opening. These works are expected to conclude in the winter.

Further updates on the work will be available on the EA's Thames Area Asset page. 

If you have any questions about the works, please email the project team on enquiries_thm@environment-agency.gov.uk.