New gate installation helps create sustainable Olympics for London

The work represents a major milestone towards the restoration of the waterways which criss-cross the Olympic site and will create a sophisticated new water control structure for the Lower Lea Valley.

The new, state-of-the-art lock will provide access to the area for 350-tonne barges, helping to take hundreds of lorry journeys a week from local roads and saving thousands of tonnes of CO2 as well as linking the Olympic Park into the Thames Gateway, creating a platform for a new 'Water City' in the East of London.

The Prescott Lock and Water Control Structure, which is funded by British Waterways, the Department for Transport, London Thames Gateway Development Corporation, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and Transport for London, with design and build delivered by contractor Volker Stevin, will in part re-establish an historic structure which previously existed at this location and maintained the water upstream on the Bow Back Rivers at a navigable depth. The £20m project comprises twin water control gates, a 62m x 8m tidal lock, footbridge, lock control building, fish pass and weir gates.

Mark Bensted, British Waterways’ London director, says: "This is an important step towards the long awaited restoration of the Bow Back Rivers. Prescott Lock is an exciting project, using modern engineering techniques to reintroduce navigation to these waterways and support the sustainable regeneration of east London. The lock will enable water-borne freight to play an important part in creating a new piece of this areas rich history and legacy for the 2012 Games."

The lock will open up the rivers in the area for the sustainable movement of materials by water. In the longer term, it will provide access for barges carrying construction traffic and recyclables between Stratford and the River Thames, and create new opportunities for leisure boats, water taxis, trip boats and floating restaurants.

Hugh Sumner, Olympic Delivery Authority, director of transport says: "The lock will play a critical role in the transportation of materials to the Olympic site, proving that we are on target to deliver 50% of materials to the Olympic Park by sustainable means. The lock will also allow work to move forward on the regeneration of the towpaths, to provide a beautiful backdrop for the hundreds of spectators that will travel to the Park by water in the summer of 2012."

Construction of the new lock is being managed by British Waterways and undertaken by design and build contractors Volker Stevin Ltd, with a supporting team including Tony Gee & Partners LLP, Bennett Associates, Clague Architects and Weetwood Environmental Engineering. Works began in March 2007 ensuring that the lock is accessible for barge traffic by the start of the peak Olympic construction period. For further information visit: www.britishwaterways.co.uk/olympics.