Community Update: Phase One Masonry Repairs Complete

Old Slys Lock repairs

May 22, 2019 – The first phase of historic masonry repairs at Old Slys Lock has now come to a close. The contractor will be completing landscaping in the upcoming weeks, once the soil is more firm and sod can be laid.

Over the past seven months, repairs were completed on the masonry outside of the chamber of both locks 26 and 27, as well as inside the chamber of Lock 26. This work included stone replacement, repointing, and grouting. The stop log gains and west wall also underwent repairs.

In fall 2019, the second and final phase of work will begin. This phase will focus on repairs to the stone masonry within Lock 27 and its sluice tunnels. This project is expected to finish in spring 2020.
The rehabilitation of Old Slys Locks is part of Parks Canada’s infrastructure program, a $3 billion dollars 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.

About Old Slys Lock

This site’s namesake is William Sly, a settler who began developing the area in the early 1800’s. In the late 1820s, construction of the locks began. Plans were later modified to increase the size of the lock to accommodate large steamboats in the early 1830s. At this time, the dam was also raised by three feet and a waste weir was included in the plans to improve water management 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 to receive updates on this project, please email RideauCanal.info@pc.gc.ca and include “Old Slys” in the subject line.