Towpath between Kew and Richmond reopens

Path washed away, October 2024; photograph Edward Ware

Towpath reopens a year after it was washed away in torrential rain

The towpath between Kew and Richmond, which was washed away in a storm in October 2024, is set to reopen on Saturday 8 November, “weather and river conditions permitting”, say Richmond Council.

Crews are now completing the final stages of repair, including essential reinforcement works to ensure the long-term stability of the riverbank.

The Council originally hoped to have reopened it in August, but the work was delayed because of constraints in the kind of plant and equipment that could be used on the tidal Thames, the Council said in August, and the challenging conditions the engineers faced.

READ ALSO: Delays to mending the towpath between Kew and Richmond

The riverbank repair required more piling and reinforcement than they had anticipated, to ensure the long-term stability of the path.

Work being carried out on the towpath betweeh Richmond and Kew this summer

Path made stronger for the future

The improvement works include reinstating the culvert and causeway – ‘designed to safely overtop first during high tides, helping to reduce erosion elsewhere along the towpath and direct water towards the newly reinforced section.

‘The project also delivers new safety and ecological features that make the path stronger, greener, and more enjoyable for everyone’.

Alongside the main repair, teams have also carried out additional improvements along the wider towpath between Richmond Lock and the breach site – clearing blocked culverts and stabilising sections of the path.

These works are part of a wider effort to care for and futureproof the borough’s riverside, say Richmond Council, ensuring it remains safe and accessible.

Grand reopening

The Council is inviting the public to go and witness the path’s reopening at 10am on Saturday 8 November, near the Richmond Lock end of the towpath.

They would like to thank Tony Gee and Partners, the project designers, and FM Conway, the principal contractor, for their hard work and expertise in delivering this complex and vital restoration.

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