River Tees
This medieval trading river was until recently a major commercial navigation. Now, the rural surroundings and impressive Tees Barrage draw walkers and pleasure boaters to enjoy life on the water.
The Tees Navigation runs in from south-west to north-east for 24 miles, from Cross Fell in the Pennines to the North Sea near Middlesbrough. Now that the river no longer reflects the glow from steel works and shipyards, it is becoming more accessible to the people of Teesside and beyond.
The Tees Barrage is 70 metres wide, 32 metres long and sits on a giant, reinforced raft comprising 16,500 cubic metres of concrete. Its four 50-tonne gates are each operated by a 21-tonne hydraulic ram and control the river's flow. Visitors can stroll over the Tees across its pedestrian bridge to see its navigation lock and enjoy the impressive panoramic views.
Upgrade of the Tees Whitewater Course
A public consultation and exhibition for a project to upgrade the whitewater course at the Tees Barrage is being held jointly by British Waterways and the Stockton Middlesborough Initiative on 13 June 2008.
The exhibition is in the Four Seasons building at the existing course and will have several boards describing and illustrating the project which includes:
- The installation of 4 archimedes screw pumps which can be used as required to provide sufficient flow down the course, removing dependence on the tides. When water is available the screws can be run in reverse to generate electricity which covers the consumption costs of the pumping times;
- Building stepped enclosure walls to allow greater flow and depth of water to be contained within the channel;
- Creating a new 'shortcut' course which can be used separately to the main course and which is planned to have the largest single drop on an artificial course in the country;
- Improving customers' experience through providing a boat lift from the bottom to the top of the course;
- Incorporating features which will increase the level of challenge for skilled canoeists and creating 'on demand' low grade white water on the warm up lake;
- Improving the spectator experience through providing better footpaths, lighting, landscaping and a new bridge;
- Providing slalom gates and timing facilities for competitions;
- Improvements to the rescue and safety training facilities;
- Improved facilities for course users including changing and training rooms and additional canoe storage.
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