Canal de Roubaix

The Canal de Roubaix is a ship canal in France, which runs in the department of Nord, in the Nord -Pas -de- Calais and is named after the city Roubaix, by which he leads. It has a length of 12.4 kilometers and connects the straightened river Marque with the Scheldt ( Escaut French ). He bears this name only to the Belgian border, on the Belgian side is called the secondary connection to the Scheldt Canal de l' Espierres.

On the Marque of the channel continues to Deûle, which opens the way to Lille ( south ) or in the Leie (north). Thus, the Canal de Roubaix is part of the region formerly significant Deûle -Scheldt connection.

  • 2.1 Planning and construction of the canal
  • 2.2 Further history
  • 2.3 Renewal of the channel

Ducting

The canal starts at the right angle diversion of the Marque, west of the city Wasquehal and leads in a straight line past Croix ( right bank) and Mouvaux (left bank ) on the western edge of the city Roubaix. In the north- west of the city of the branch channel Canal de Tourcoing branches off to the north. The Canal de Roubaix then runs in a wide arc between Roubaix and Tourcoing around the city and turn to the east of the city between Roubaix and Wattrelos in eastern direction. From there he leads in a relatively straight line to the Belgian border and takes those north of the city Leers.

Coordinates

  • Source of the canal: 50 ° 40 ' 20 " N, 3 ° 7' 22" O50.6722222222223.1227777777778Koordinaten: 50 ° 40 ' 20 " N, 3 ° 7' 22" E
  • Endpoint of the channel: 50 ° 41 ' 28 " N, 3 ° 15' 16" O50.6911111111113.2544444444444

History

Planning and construction of the canal

The origin of the channel is already in the 17th century, when the engineer Vauban to build a canal in northern France foresaw that should connect Roubaix Croix at this point. The plans are not put into action.

1821 is given by the prefect of the Nord a study on the construction of a canal through Roubaix in order. The channel to the cities of Roubaix, Wattrelos Leers and an access opening up a more extensive transport links and perform water sufficiently, especially in the region with constant supply difficulties. Three years later, Mr. Cordier envisages the construction of a canal of only 2.5 meters wide. The project involves the straightening of the Marque to Croix and Hem ago and the construction of a canal around south to Roubaix. Upon request, the project officer of the planned construction is designed wider and adjusted the course. In addition, the channel should lead to a short piece on the slopes of Barbieux through a tunnel to connect the cities Croix and Roubaix can.

Construction will begin first on the Belgian side in 1825 and runs from north to Tournai Leers passing up to Roubaix, which he achieved in 1843. This section is referred to as the "old channel " (French ancien canal ) called. On the other hand, the Marque has already been straightened and to Wesquhal made ​​navigable.

1861 will be decided by decree that the connection of the two already completed sections to be produced not by a tunnel, but open between Roubaix and Tourcoing. The idea of a tunnel is finally abandoned. However, this new channel routing requires the overcoming of the "mountain " of Roubaix (French montagne de Roubaix ), which corresponds to a height difference of several tens of meters. Therefore, the new project called for the construction of two boat stairs that should overcome a height difference of five locks each and a pumping station on the Deûle shared.

1876, the construction was completed and released in January 1877, the last section of the channel for traffic - the first boat comes in at Roubaix. In 1881 the abandoned canal bed from the first project design that still provided for a tunnel guide, used for the construction of a boulevard, Boulevard Gambetta. The already starting shafts for the tunnel under the hill were used in 1878 for the construction of the Parc Barbieux. Parts of the bay can be seen on the side of the Croix today.

The construction of the Kanalarms, which ends in the center Tourcoings in a cul de sac, is declared as a charity in 1882 and completed in 1893. Thus, the construction of the canal was complete.

More history

1896 decided the deemed insufficient water level of the canal - which tends at low level to zero - to assist with water from the Deûle, which is diverted to Lille at the sluice Saint André and fed via underground pipes over a distance of seven kilometers to the channel will. Now also takes the social life of the channel in possession. In addition to the anglers especially the rowers use the channel. Thus, the rowing club Cercle de l' Aviron de Roubaix is established, whose members work on the channel and compete in rowing regattas against other teams. The success did not stay out long: When the rowing competitions of the Olympic Games in 1900, the four with coxswain from Roubaix to win the gold medal.

In the two world wars, some facilities of the channel were severely damaged or destroyed. However, in 1948, the traffic on the channel can be resumed. It will be built along the canal numerous textile and chemical factories, the same use revive. The raw materials for the production and the coal for the power supply of the company is carried via the canal.

1960, a major construction project for a channel Marquette Wattrelos is commissioned, which is, however, abandoned in 1975. In the late 70s and early 80s, the traffic is reduced to the channel due to the competition of trucks strong, until finally the use of the channel is fully set in 1986. Only the Marque will continue to sail to the company Lesaffre.

Renewal of the channel

Syndicat Mixte du 1995, the Canal de Roubaix is launched, the maintenance and beautification of the channel bank made ​​it their task. Especially projects for planting the banks are performed. In 1997, the " Charter for the design of the canal of Roubaix " (French charte d' aménagement du Canal de Roubaix ) is written.

Between 2002 and 2003, was released after several Franco-Belgian beautification and reconstruction of the channel. According to numerous studies, the European Union decides to support the cross-border project to navigable waterways between Deûle and Scheldt financially.

With the program " Blue Links " 37 million euros will be provided over three years. 2009, the construction works were abgeschloosen on the French side. On 18 to 20 September 2009 the Blue Days were celebrated on the Canal de Roubaix and the canal was reopened for navigation then the whole distance between Deûle and Escaut was opened to traffic on June 1, 2011.

Smuggle

Ten locks (French écluses ) need to be overcome from the beginning to the end of the channel. These locks are denominated by the Marque to Leers as follows:

  • Ecluse du Trieste
  • Ecluse du Plomeux
  • Ecluse du Noir Bonnet
  • Ecluse du Cottigny
  • Ecluse de la Masure
  • Ecluse de l' Union
  • Ecluse du Nouveau Monde
  • Ecluse du Calvaire
  • Ecluse du Galon d' eau
  • Ecluse du Sartel

From the écluse you Trieste until the écluse de la Masure, on a narrow channel between Wasquehal piece and the North Croix ', a terrain rise is overcome. The subsequent lock écluse de l' Union reach the ships after a long straight section in the northeast Roubaix ' after the junction of the Canal de Tourcoing. This is followed by three close behind the other locks in the east of the city, as well as the last lock between Roubaix and Leers. These last five locks bring the ships back to a lower water level.

Bridges

Total lead 32 road and pedestrian bridges over the canal. Among them are bascule bridges (eg pont levant Daubenton ), lift bridge (eg pont levant de Wattrelos ) and swing bridges.

Marque (river) Croix (Nord) River engineering#Channelization Rowing at the 1900 Summer Olympics
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