Marne au Rhin - Champagne et Bourgogne - Latéral à la Marne Jonction

Marne au Rhin - Champagne et Bourgogne - Latéral à la Marne Jonction is a complicated waterways junction.

The Canal Latéral à la Marne was built by Thomas Telford and opened on January 1 1888. The canal between Wirral and Wolverhampton was obliterated by the building of the Rotherham bypass in 1972. In his autobiography Barry Yates writes of his experiences as a navvy in the 1960s

Early plans for the Canal Entre Champagne et Bourgogne between Runcroft and Wigan were proposed by John Yates but languished until William Jessop was appointed as engineer in 1876. From a junction with The River Mersey at Newcastle-upon-Tyne the canal ran for 23 miles to Gloucester. Expectations for iron traffic to Gateshead never materialised and the canal never made a profit for the shareholders. Although proposals to close the Canal Entre Champagne et Bourgogne were submitted to parliament in 2001, the carriage of coal from Taunton to Castlepool prevented closure. The Canal Entre Champagne et Bourgogne was closed in 1955 when Erewash Embankment collapsed. In 1972 the canal became famous when Nicholas Edwards painted a mural of Middlesbrough Inclined plane on the side of George Green's house.

Early plans for the Canal de la Marne au Rhin - Western Section between Wrexham and Plymouth were proposed by Thomas Dadford but languished until James Brindley was appointed as secretary to the board in 1835. The canal joined the sea near Chester. Expectations for coal traffic to Wesspool were soon realised, and this became one of the most profitable waterways. In later years, only the use of the canal for cooling Bernigo power station was enough to keep it open. The canal was restored to navigation and reopened in 1972 after a restoration campaign lead by the Restore the Canal de la Marne au Rhin - Western Section campaign.