Walton flow gauge refurbishment 2021: river restriction notice
Updated 31 March 2021
© Crown copyright 2021
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/walton-flow-gauge-refurbishment-2021-river-closure-notice/walton-flow-gauge-refurbishment-2021-river-closure-notice
When
Thursday 20 May at 9am to Friday 21 May 2021 at 4pm.
Monday 24 May at 9am to Friday 28 May 2021 at 4pm.
Tuesday 1 June at 9am to Friday 4 June 2021 at 4pm.
Where
Sunbury reach, between Sunbury and Shepperton Locks.
Details
A 50 metre section of the river will be restricted at NGR: TQ0996167037 WHAT3WORDS: PLATES.FAME.BRAVE from Thursday 20 May at 9am to Friday 21 May at 4pm, Monday 24 May at 9am to Friday 28 May at 4pm and Tuesday 1 June at 9am to Friday 4 June 2021 at 4pm. The navigable width of the river will be reduced to approximately half of its normal width. There will also be short periods of time where the river will have to be closed to allow for the works to transfer from one side of the channel to the other, this may take a few hours.
This is to allow the refurbishment of the Walton flow gauge. The current equipment has reached the end of its operational life. We need to excavate a trench in the river bed in order to lay new cables across the river to bring the flow gauge back into service. Once the trench has been excavated, divers will lay the cable in a specially designed weighted casing and anchor it within the trench. Then the trench will be backfilled.
The information captured by our network of gauging stations enables us to monitor flows and levels in the Thames 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and we use it in a number of strategically important ways: to help us forecast and respond to developing flood risk, including through the operation of the Jubilee River and Thames Barrier, and to manage water levels to support the provision of drinking water supplies, to enable safe navigation, and to protect the river’s ecology.
We apologise for any inconvenience these works cause and thank you for your patience during this time.