Construction work is now well underway to provide a new tidal lock where the South Forty Foot Drain meets the River Witham at Boston. 
 
This lock is the first major step towards realisation of the Fens Waterways Link.  The Fens Waterways Link promises to be one of the most significant waterway developments in recent years.  It will connect the Rivers Witham, Glen, Welland, Nene and Ouse and will open up 240 km of waterways creating a new circular waterway for recreation, tourism and the environment.

The Link will represent the most significant partnership development of the inland navigation network of the UK in two centuries.
 
The work at Boston is being managed by the Environment Agency, working with our team of Engineers at Halcrow and our Principal Contractor, Jackson Civil Engineering.  
 
The project has been  funded through the Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership  formed between the Environment Agency, British Waterways and Lincolnshire County Council.  Funding for the work has come from a range of partners including: Lincolnshire County Council (£4m), East Midlands Development Agency (£2m) and European Regional Development Fund (£2m)

Timescales for delivery of this ambitious project are tight and over the next few months work will take place rapidly.  You will be able to see for yourself how things are going through a real time view provided by our on-site Web-cam.
 
Together with construction of the lock we are installing two new floating visitor moorings in the South Forty Foot Drain at Hubberts Bridge and Swinsehead that will allow boaters to move up the navigation to take advantage of some good local pubs and rest areas.