A multi-million pound dredging programme to revitalise the Olympic Park waterways is underway. The project is designed to improve water quality and open up the navigation to allow freight boats to carry construction materials into the site.¾°¹ÛÉè¼Æʦwww.lachina.org

A 60-tonne craft has started dredging a 2.2km stretch of water from Bow Locks on Bow Creek to the Waterworks River, adjacent to the site of the Olympic Aquatics Centre. The craft is expected to remove 30,000 tonnes of silt, gravel and rubble as well as tyres, shopping trolleys, timber and at least one motorcar.¾°¹ÛÉè¼Æʦwww.lachina.org¾°¹ÛÉè¼Æʦwww.lachina.org¾°¹ÛÉè¼Æʦwww.lachina.org¾°¹ÛÉè¼Æʦwww.lachina.org

ODA environment manager, Richard Jackson said: “The Olympic Park is characterised by a series of waterways which act as green corridors running through the heart of the site. Currently, they are polluted, neglected and under-used, and have been treated as a dumping ground for everything from shopping trolleys to cars.¾°¹ÛÉè¼Æʦwww.lachina.org¾°¹ÛÉè¼Æʦwww.lachina.org¾°¹ÛÉè¼Æʦwww.lachina.org

“This dredging programme is an important step in regenerating the waterways and will help improve water quality, creating better habitats for wildlife and plants.”¾°¹ÛÉè¼Æʦwww.lachina.org¾°¹ÛÉè¼Æʦwww.lachina.org¾°¹ÛÉè¼Æʦwww.lachina.org¾°¹ÛÉè¼Æʦwww.lachina.org¾°¹ÛÉè¼Æʦwww.lachina.org

Work began on the upper levels of the wharf this week and is due to be completed at the start of June.¾°¹ÛÉè¼Æʦwww.lachina.org¾°¹ÛÉè¼Æʦwww.lachina.org¾°¹ÛÉè¼Æʦwww.lachina.org¾°¹ÛÉè¼Æʦwww.lachina.org

Barges will then be able to travel into the park by water, via the new lock and water control structure – Three Mills Lock , at Prescott Channel. The ¡ê20m structure comprises twin water control gates, a 62m-long tidal lock, footbridge, lock control building, fish pass and fixed weir.¾°¹ÛÉè¼Æʦwww.lachina.org¾°¹ÛÉè¼Æʦwww.lachina.org¾°¹ÛÉè¼Æʦwww.lachina.org