The Millennium Link Opens 2000

The Union Canal had been cut just west of Bridge 21 by the building of the M8 motorway. As part of the millennium project to reopen the canal to through traffic the canal was tunnelled under the motorway. To achieve this , a new 200 metre section of canal ha d to be dug west from Bridge 21 to a point where the M8 had risen to a high enough point to be tunnelled under.

Aerial view of the M8 cutting the canal pre-tunnel

Campaigning to reopen trhe canal at the M8

The Linlithgow Union Canal Society issued the above invitation to Ronnie Rusack's resaurant barge "Pride of the Union", based at Ratho, to meet at the new tunnel.

A flotilla leaves Ratho.

Crossing the Almond Aqueduct.

Entering the new M8 tunnel.

Fire eaters great the flotilla.

Ronnie Rusack triumphantly greets the awaiting crowd.

The Drambuie pipe band greats the flotilla.

Melville Gray of the Linlithgow Canal Society on their boat "Victoria" greats Ronnie Rusack on "Pride of the Union"

A split "M Key" was reunited to mark the event. The key is in the Linlithgow Society museum.

The flotilla join up and proceed to Broxburn for an awaiting crowd.

The flotillas head east and pass through the Bridge 21 basin

Pride of the Union is piped across the Almond Aqueduct.

The flotilla returns to Ratho and awaiting crowds.

The Millenium Key

The key was made from a piece of wood from an original lock gate from the Forth and Clyde. The whole piece was a round and cut by the late Robert Mcleod a supervisor on the canal.