First phase complete on Olympic Park waterway regeneration

The work to drive over 700 steel piles, each weighing up to 11 tonnes, 18 metres into the ground along the banks of the river next to the site of the Aquatics Centre has completed on time. The existing dilapidated 1930’s concrete river walls will now be removed and around 70,000 tonnes of materials excavated from the site.

This process will allow the waterway to be widened by eight metres and new river walls constructed, making it more accessible and stabilising the river banks.

David Higgins, Chief Executive of the ODA, said: 'The rivers and canals that intersect the Olympic Park and the surrounding area are currently polluted, neglected and under-used. As part of creating Europe’s largest new urban park for 150 years, we will regenerate the tow paths and waterways, remodelling over 3.5km of riverbanks, widening wetland areas, enhancing wildlife habitats and improving water quality and levels.

'These water courses are also an important part of our logistics strategy - we plan to use the waterways for the transport of construction materials during the Games, cutting down on the amount of lorries travelling on the roads.'

The work to create a new lock and water control structure on Prescott Channel is progressing well and tidal lock-out is due to be achieved shortly with completion of the project expected at the end of the summer. This will improve access to the Olympic Park waterways, making them navigable for freight traffic during construction phase.

British Waterways’ regeneration manager for London, Richard Rutter said: 'Prescott Lock will return the surrounding waterways to navigation and provide a green gateway to the Olympic Park allowing 350-tonne barges to bring in construction materials from wharves along the Thames. Transferring materials by water is cleaner, greener and safer than by road as it uses less than a third of the fuel needed and emits less than a sixth of the pollution.

'After the Games, the restored waterways will become the focus for new routes and opportunities for leisure boats, water taxis, trip boats, heritage barges and new businesses, whilst providing new waterside walking and cycling routes and quiet places for wildlife.'

Notes to Editors:

1. Photos of the river piling work and Prescott Lock are available from the ODA Press Office.

2. The Lea Valley waterways primarily run north to south through the heart of the Olympic Park and ultimately connect with the Thames.

3. The River Lea runs through the centre of the Park and is joined in the northern part of the Park, by the Channelsea River, Henniker’s Ditch and two main areas of wetlands.

4. In the south, the waterways include the Waterworks River, City Mill River, Bow Back River and the Old River Lea. The Park’s westernmost boundary is the Lea Navigation – a historically important canal that links East London to West London.

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For further information please contact the Olympic Delivery Authority Press Office on +44 (0)203 2012 700

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