Canal and river groundwork plays a vital role in maintaining the safety, stability, and function of the UK’s waterway infrastructure. From protecting embankments and supporting navigation routes to enabling new development near rivers and canals, these works are essential for both heritage preservation and modern infrastructure.
As a trusted contractor within the utilities and infrastructure sectors, Aarsleff delivers tailored canal and river groundwork solutions across the UK. Our services are designed to maximise resilience, prevent erosion, and ensure long-term structural integrity in complex waterway environments. With expertise in stabilising canal walls, reinforcing towpaths, and operating within inland water systems—including aqueducts, tunnels, and lock networks—we deliver engineered solutions with minimal disruption and maximum efficiency.
Delivering effective groundwork in canal and river settings requires in-depth geotechnical knowledge, robust engineering design, and a commitment to environmental sustainability.
Our solutions help to prepare sites for development, ensuring they meet stringent regulatory standards before construction begins. This is particularly critical in projects involving new towpaths, moorings, or flood defence infrastructure, where soil variability can jeopardise the performance of entire systems if not adequately addressed. Our engineering practices also contribute to the stability and function of canal systems, especially where fluctuating water levels may present additional risks.
We offer a range of ground engineering techniques, including:
These services play a vital role in embankment stabilisation and erosion control, reducing the risk of collapses that could threaten waterway operations or cause environmental harm. Aarsleff maintains an environmentally responsible approach, working to actively minimise disruption to habitats and reduce carbon emissions across our schemes.
Robust and lasting retaining walls for canals and rivers are central to preserving embankment integrity, maintaining waterway safety, and supporting surrounding infrastructure.
We design and install a variety of retaining wall systems to meet project-specific requirements:
Our retaining wall solutions are engineered to resist water pressure, soil movement, and weather extremes, helping preserve the integrity and function of the surrounding environment and infrastructure.
Where structures are located on or near water, or where ground conditions are poor, piling becomes essential. As a specialist piling contractor, our operations support a broad range of canal and river infrastructure. Our expertise also extends to marine piling solutions, enabling us to work confidently in challenging marine and riverine environments.
We provide:
Our marine piling expertise enables us to work confidently in tidal, riverine, or inland waterway environments, delivering piling solutions for bridges, lock gates, riverbank structures, and more.
We also offer full pile testing services, including static and dynamic load testing, to validate capacity and performance, ensuring complete confidence in every project.
Since our establishment, Aarsleff have completed many canal and river groundwork projects across the UK. Our diverse portfolio showcases our adaptability and technical capability across a variety of environments and structures. From heritage canal systems to new infrastructure, our projects showcase our depth of experience. Click on a project to read its full details.
Whether you’re upgrading historic canal infrastructure or developing new riverfront projects, Aarsleff provides the technical capabilities and trusted experience to deliver successful outcomes.
From ground investigation to retaining structures and piling installations, we manage every aspect of your canal and river groundwork scheme with care, precision, and efficiency.
Contact our team today to discuss your requirements and discover how we can support your next project with industry-leading geotechnical expertise.