North Portal - Tunnel de Balesmes - Haute-Marne (52) - France - Canal Tunnels on Waymarking.com

This is the northern portal of the Balesmes canal tunnel north of Balesmes-sur-Marne in Haute-Marne (52), France. This tunnel is at the summit of the canal and is 4,820 metres long.

It is controlled by traffic lights as it is one way only. It is lit throughout and has a towpath along one side. It also has six pairs of extractor fans affixed to the ceiling as there are no air vents.


INFORMATION ON THE CANAL

The 224 kilometre long canal has 71 locks on the northern side of the summit and 43 on the southern side.

Locks 71 to 45 (on the northern side) are operated by a remote control unit issued to boaters as they enter the canal. The remaining locks are operated by éclusiers who travel in cars, vans or bikes alongside the boater.

The locks are all Freycinet standard size of 39m x 5.05m. Commercial traffic still uses this canal therefore it remains open all year around.

The canal was initially called the Haute-Marne, then the Canal de la Marne à la Saône and now the Canal entre Champagne et Bourgogne. The final name was probably chosen for touristic reasons.

Many locks still have lock cottages and where there are still information plates they have the name of the canal as Canal de la Marne à la Saône.

History – The Canal de la Marne à la Saône was one of the key projects under the Freycinet programme voted in 1879, which provided for 1400km of new waterways. At that time a 73km length with 31 locks had already been built (staring in 1862) under the name of Canal de la Haute-Marne. The planned budgets were regularly cut back in the following years, which made progress slow for the period, and the link was not completed until 1907. Commercial traffic survives on this route.

More information can be found here:
(visit link)

Is the Tunnel in Use?: In Use Which End is this Entrance?: North Date Constructed: 01/01/1883 Length of Tunnel: 4820 metres Construction Material: Rock lined with stone Associated Website: [Web Link]

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