Well, here's the answer:
The sluice (gate) is a vertical barrier inserted into the weir which can be moved up and down to allow more or less water to pass through. Here it is:
It is a vital part of controlling the level of water in the Medway; all the locks along the river have a sluice gate. This one was installed in 1974 and it's in bad repair and is being replaced.
The gate is operated from the hut on one side, although it can be set to operate remotely through a system of floats set at certain levels. The new system will allow much better control of the gate and manage river levels more effectively.
Removing it and bringing in the new one is a challenge because it has to be disassembled and transported across the lock and onto the site by the Teston country park from where it can be carted away. And the new one has to make the opposite journey.
This is being done by a large crane. It is 83 meters (275 feet) high and weighs 250 tons, and it can lift 1 ton at a time, safely across the lock.
That's the bottom end, parked by the Teston Country Park. Here's the rest of it...all 83 meters.
and in action
Obviously you cannot walk up the towpath while a ton of metal is swinging above you so the way is closed for a few minutes each time.
The budget for the construction element of the sluice repairs is £2.3m, and this work should be complete by December, when the crane and the project offices will be removed.
In addition, the Environment Agency is planning various conservation and other work around the site which will last into Summer 2025. This includes replacing the fish and eel ladder, which we wrote about in 2017.
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