The Kirkfield Lift Lock is a boat lift located in the city of Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, Canada, near the village of Kirkfield. It is designated "Lock 36" of the Trent–Severn Waterway, situated at the highest section of the canal (256.2 m).[1] It is Canada's second lift lock, the other one is the Peterborough Lift Lock, located on the same canal system.[2]
Construction of the Kirkfield Lift Lock during the 1900s
Construction of the lock took place between 1900 and 1907.[2] It was contrived by Richard Birdsall Rogers, a Canadian engineer, who adopted the design of the Lifts on the old Canal du Centre in Belgium. The concept of the hydraulic lift lock had never been implemented in the harsher Canadian climate prior to the construction of the Peterborough Lift Lock, also designed by Rogers. The successful completion of the locks was therefore considered a significant technological breakthrough.
Modernizationedit
During the late 1960s, the Kirkfield Lift Lock underwent a series of renovations. The original manual controls were electrified and automated, enabling all lock operations to be activated from a single console in the new control tower. The water-driven gate engines and pumps were removed, as well as the retaining walls, concrete piers, and the steel aqueduct. The shops and lockmaster's houses built along the canal were also demolished. The lock was reinforced with a massive concrete structure; a new two-lane underpass was constructed underneath.
View of Kawartha Lakes Road 6 (formerly Highway 503 travelling beneath the locks).
Currently, the lock is used exclusively by pleasure boats, like the rest of the canal, becoming obsolete for commercial traffic after the present version of the Welland Canal was completed in 1932.
Accident and Repairedit
On September 2nd, 2022, water suddenly began pouring out from the lock's northern caisson. Passengers aboard the Kawartha Voyageur, which was being raised up at the time, evacuated as the damaged lock was lowered back down. Unbeknownst to the passengers and witnesses to the event, the lock had suffered a mechanical failure. The lock was shut down and the site closed to the public as authorities investigated the incident.[3]
On January 20th, 2023, Parks Canada announced that a contract was awarded in order to make repairs.[4][5] By the start of navigation season on May 19th that same year, the lock was re-opened with "equipment and procedures for short-term, expedited single-tub operations" as repair work continued through the summer.[6]
^ ab"Canada's New Government celebrates the Kirkfield Lift Lock Centennial". newswire.ca. 2007-07-21. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
^"Passengers Of Kawartha Voyageur Cruise Evacuated After Scary Lift Lock Failure". Kawartha 411. 2022-09-03. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
^Parks Canada Agency, Government of Canada (2023-01-20). "CONTRACT AWARDED FOR REPAIRS TO THE KIRKFIELD LIFT LOCK". www.pc.gc.ca. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
^"Contract Awarded For Repairs To Kirkfield Lift Lock After Mechanical Failure Forced Its Closure In September". Kawartha 411. 2022-09-03. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
^Parks Canada Agency, Government of Canada (2023-05-01). "UPDATE ON REPAIRS TO THE KIRKFIELD LIFT LOCK". www.pc.gc.ca. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
January 01, 1970
kirkfield, lift, lock, boat, lift, located, city, kawartha, lakes, ontario, canada, near, village, kirkfield, designated, lock, trent, severn, waterway, situated, highest, section, canal, canada, second, lift, lock, other, peterborough, lift, lock, located, sa. The Kirkfield Lift Lock is a boat lift located in the city of Kawartha Lakes Ontario Canada near the village of Kirkfield It is designated Lock 36 of the Trent Severn Waterway situated at the highest section of the canal 256 2 m 1 It is Canada s second lift lock the other one is the Peterborough Lift Lock located on the same canal system 2 Kirkfield Lift Lock44 35 23 N 78 59 23 W 44 58973 N 78 98981 W 44 58973 78 98981WaterwayTrent Severn WaterwayCountryCanadaMaintained byParks CanadaOperationHydraulicFirst built1907Latest built1969Length42 4 mWidth10 1 mFall14 9 mAbove sea level256 2 m Contents 1 Construction history 1 1 The early years 1 2 Modernization 1 3 Accident and Repair 2 ReferencesConstruction history editThe early years edit nbsp Construction of the Kirkfield Lift Lock during the 1900s Construction of the lock took place between 1900 and 1907 2 It was contrived by Richard Birdsall Rogers a Canadian engineer who adopted the design of the Lifts on the old Canal du Centre in Belgium The concept of the hydraulic lift lock had never been implemented in the harsher Canadian climate prior to the construction of the Peterborough Lift Lock also designed by Rogers The successful completion of the locks was therefore considered a significant technological breakthrough Modernization edit During the late 1960s the Kirkfield Lift Lock underwent a series of renovations The original manual controls were electrified and automated enabling all lock operations to be activated from a single console in the new control tower The water driven gate engines and pumps were removed as well as the retaining walls concrete piers and the steel aqueduct The shops and lockmaster s houses built along the canal were also demolished The lock was reinforced with a massive concrete structure a new two lane underpass was constructed underneath nbsp View of Kawartha Lakes Road 6 formerly Highway 503 travelling beneath the locks Currently the lock is used exclusively by pleasure boats like the rest of the canal becoming obsolete for commercial traffic after the present version of the Welland Canal was completed in 1932 Accident and Repair edit On September 2nd 2022 water suddenly began pouring out from the lock s northern caisson Passengers aboard the Kawartha Voyageur which was being raised up at the time evacuated as the damaged lock was lowered back down Unbeknownst to the passengers and witnesses to the event the lock had suffered a mechanical failure The lock was shut down and the site closed to the public as authorities investigated the incident 3 On January 20th 2023 Parks Canada announced that a contract was awarded in order to make repairs 4 5 By the start of navigation season on May 19th that same year the lock was re opened with equipment and procedures for short term expedited single tub operations as repair work continued through the summer 6 References edit Lock 36 Kirkfield Lift Lock Parks Canada 2007 03 06 Retrieved 2008 08 25 a b Canada s New Government celebrates the Kirkfield Lift Lock Centennial newswire ca 2007 07 21 Retrieved 2008 08 26 Passengers Of Kawartha Voyageur Cruise Evacuated After Scary Lift Lock Failure Kawartha 411 2022 09 03 Retrieved 2024 02 09 Parks Canada Agency Government of Canada 2023 01 20 CONTRACT AWARDED FOR REPAIRS TO THE KIRKFIELD LIFT LOCK www pc gc ca Retrieved 2024 02 09 Contract Awarded For Repairs To Kirkfield Lift Lock After Mechanical Failure Forced Its Closure In September Kawartha 411 2022 09 03 Retrieved 2024 02 09 Parks Canada Agency Government of Canada 2023 05 01 UPDATE ON REPAIRS TO THE KIRKFIELD LIFT LOCK www pc gc ca Retrieved 2024 02 09 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kirkfield Lift Lock amp oldid 1205171669, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
