Teddington Launch Lock work progresses — but complexity causing delays
21 July 2026 · By Boroughly editorial — AI-assisted, human-reviewed.
The refurbishment of Teddington Launch Lock is moving forward, though the project is taking longer than originally anticipated because of the age and condition of the structure.
The Environment Agency's contractor has been excavating damaged sections at both ends of the lock and has now nearly completed the process of reinforcing the walls using steel rods. New concrete foundation walls are being built, and steel recesses — known as quoins — have been installed into the lock walls to allow the lock gates to operate correctly. That element has proved especially demanding: dimensional tolerances in some places must be held to within ±1mm.
The 100-year-old structure has thrown up surprises. After the water was drained and detailed scans carried out earlier this year, engineers discovered that parts of the lock had shifted from the original as-built records over time. The design has had to be adjusted on the fly as construction has progressed.
The lock is an important piece of river infrastructure on the Thames at Teddington, used by small craft passing between tidal and non-tidal stretches of the river. No revised completion date has been announced. The latest update is on the Richmond Council website.