Bonnington Aqueduct facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bonnington Aqueduct |
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Bonnington Aqueduct viewed from the level of the canal
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| Coordinates | 55°55′28″N 3°24′52″W / 55.9244°N 3.4144°W |
| OS grid reference | |
| Carries | Union Canal |
| Crosses | B7030 Cliftonhall Road |
| Locale | Bonnington |
The Bonnington Aqueduct is a special kind of bridge that carries a canal over a road. It's located on the Union Canal, just west of Edinburgh, Scotland. An aqueduct like this allows boats to travel smoothly along the canal without having to go down to road level.
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What is the Bonnington Aqueduct?
The Bonnington Aqueduct is a structure that helps the Union Canal cross over the B7030 Cliftonhall Road. Think of it like a water bridge! It's an important part of the canal system, allowing boats to continue their journey without interruption.
Where is it located?
This aqueduct is found to the west of Edinburgh, in Scotland. It's named after the village of Bonnington, which is nearby to the south. If you're on the canal, you'll find it between Bridge 15 (Ratho Bridge) and Bridge 16 (Nellfield Bridge).
History of the Aqueduct
The first aqueduct at this spot was quite old. It was about 10 feet wide.
When was the current aqueduct built?
The aqueduct you see today is not the original one. It's a newer version made of concrete. This modern aqueduct was opened in 1978. It was built to allow the road underneath, the B7030 Cliftonhall Road, to be made wider for more traffic.
Design and Features
The Bonnington Aqueduct is designed to carry the canal over the road. The M8 motorway also passes nearby, roughly parallel to the canal.
How wide is it?
One interesting thing about this aqueduct is that it's only wide enough for a single boat to pass through at a time. This means that if two boats approach from opposite directions, one might have to wait for the other to clear the aqueduct before it can pass.
What else can you see nearby?
Just to the east of the aqueduct, the canal becomes wider. In this wider section, there's a small island. This island even has a special shelter built for birds, making it a nice spot for wildlife.
