Excavation begins in the River Taff

Excavation works began in earnest on the River Taff, where it flows under Canton Bridge, in the City Centre of Cardiff this week.

The work is being carried out to deepen the river to allow safe passage of larger vessels which serve the network of stops from Cardiff Bay and Penarth – which stop as far up the River Taff as outside the Bute Park terminus.

In the Summer water levels can be less than a foot in some places – where you can literally paddle from side to side of the river – therefore from this area down to Cardiff Bay this surely won’t be possible in future years.

A JCB truck was mounted on the back of one barge, whilst removing sediment and material from the river bed then dumping it inside another barge moored next to it. Other small vessels were also assisting in the excavation works.

It’s not entirely clear how long or how far down the river this will happen – but it has started in a half-term week when families might’ve been tempted to use the service! I saw no end of people waiting at the Bute Park stop only to read a sign then notice what was happening in front of their eyes and then fully realising that the water taxis were not calling there!

A full set of photos can be viewed here:-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/djleekee/sets/72157626111910372/
And the slideshow by pressing play below:-
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