Parks Canada has issued the following news release about work beginning soon at Narrows Lock:

In October 2016, Parks Canada will begin heritage masonry repair work at Narrows Lock 35 located on the Rideau Canal National Historic Site. Stone replacement, grouting and repointing will be completed to ensure the continued structural integrity and functionality of the lock. Some of the repairs will occur below the swing bridge, requiring the bridge to be shifted to open position for their completion. Once complete, the swing bridge will be winterized for preservation. 

This work will cause intermittent delays and a potential for nightly closures of County Road 14 at Narrows swing bridge. Road closures are tentatively planned for the end of November. In order to reduce impact to the public, road closures have been planned during times with lower volumes of traffic. Final dates and details will be made public, as soon as they have been confirmed. 

This project is part of Parks Canada’s unprecedented $3 billion dollar investment over 5 years to support infrastructure work to heritage, visitor, waterway and highway assets located within national historic sites, national parks, and national marine conservation areas across Canada. These historic investments will mitigate health and safety risks, halt the loss of nationally significant built heritage and stimulate the economy in communities across the country. 

Alternate Driving Route

Once County Road 14 is closed, the closest alternate vehicle route around Upper Rideau Lake is North Shore Road to Highway 10, travel south on Highway 10 to Highway 42. Highway 42 will take you south-east into Crosby. Signage will be posted on County Road 14 communicating the delays and alternate routes. Map attached (p. 3). 

About Narrows Lock 35

In 1830, Colonel By developed a plan to build a dam and lock across the Upper Narrows forming a new lake – Upper Rideau Lake. The lock was built on a solid rock foundation with gate sluices on both the upper and lower gates. The gates were created with oak sills bolted to rock. A dam was built on either side of the lock, and a waste weir included on the south side of the lock. In the early 1830s a blockhouse was built at the site. 

For More Information: 

For up-to-date news on infrastructure work along the Rideau Canal, please visit our website: www.pc.gc.ca/rcInfrastructure. If you would like to be added to our community engagement list and receive updates on this project, please e-mail RideauCanal.info@pc.gc.ca and include Narrows Lock 35 in the subject heading.