The official opening by H.M. The Queen took place on May 24th 2002, during her Jubilee Tour of Scotland.
The 115 foot high wheel replaces a staircase of 11 locks which previously linked the Forth & Clyde Canal to the Union Canal.
3.8 Kilometers of a new extension to the Union Canal have been constructed, including 2 new aqueducts, 3 new locks,12 new road bridges, 3 new foot bridges and a new tunnel which goes under the Antonine Wall and the Edinburgh - Glasgow railway line.
Many road bridges have had to be rebuilt to allow clearance for boats, road builders of the post war variety having assumed that canals need no longer be navigable!
A total of 83 Km of towpath along the two canals has been upgraded, along with the removal of nearly 300,000 tonnes of rubbish!
The Forth & Clyde Canal is navigable,from Carronshore on the Forth to Bowling on the Clyde. The Union Canal is also accesible at Wester Hailes (Edinburgh), Ratho and Linlithgow. Short canalboat trips and boat hires are available at these locations.
The Falkirk Wheel is in the Tamfourhill area of Falkirk, and is well signed from the M8 and M876 motorways. There is plenty of parking on and off site, as well as a Visitor Centre. Boat trips over the Wheel and through the new tunnel are also available, or why not take a barge trip along the Forth & Clyde Canal from The Union Inn at Lock 16, at Camelon, Falkirk.