Chambly Canal Reopened After Emergency Closure
Sept 12, 2024
the Chambly Canal in Quebec has reopened to navigation as of September 4. Following unauthorized work carried out on a parcel of land adjacent to the Chambly Canal National Historic Site causing concerning damage to the integrity of the installations, Parks Canada has lowered the water level between Locks No. 8 and 9 as a precautionary measure.
The water level in the canal was lowered following the unauthorized work on a dike at the Chambly Canal National Historic Site. Following a preliminary technical assessment of the installations and for safety reasons, Parks Canada decided to lower the water level in reach 8 (between locks 8 and 9) and close the Chambly Canal on August 20, 2024.
A detailed inspection of the dike took place on August 27, revealing that the unauthorized excavation had changed the dike’s geometry, increasing its vulnerability. The work consists of installing a geotextile followed by the addition of a pipe and a large volume of stone.
Along the Richelieu River, the Chambly Canal stretches nearly 20 kilometres between the municipalities of Chambly and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.
