KAWARTHA LAKES-Parks Canada advises the public to expect traffic interruptions at the Kirkfield Lift Lock from Tuesday, December 19, 2023, to Wednesday, December 20, 2023, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A partial lane closure on Kirkfield Road (County Road 6) is required to facilitate crane access, to support the necessary repairs at the Kirkfield Lift Lock Traffic controls, including flaggers and signage, will be in place as needed.
In September 2022 passengers of the Kawartha Voyageur had to be evacuated from the boat after the lift lock failed and began spewing water.
Ray Barlow had stopped at the lift lock with his spouse and his dog to remember old times when he said they heard some strange noises coming from the lock and water started pouring out over the sides.
“All of a sudden there was all this water coming over the lock and it was like something shifted and it was making weird noises like distressed metal and clanking,” Barlow told Kawartha 411 News. “We took off because we thought this isn’t right, I have gone through this lock for years and it doesn’t do this. It was scary.”
Barlow says it was like you could feel the lock had moved backwards a bit, it had tipped and the Voyageur was bouncing around inside it.
Read more here:https://www.kawartha411.ca/2022/09/03/passengers-of-kawartha-voyageur-cruise-evacuated-after-scary-liftlock-failure/
The lift lock was closed to the public until temporary repairs were made which allowed the lock to open in the summer of 2023 with modified lockage.
