A section of the River Thames will experience significant disruption to waterway access during the coming winter season.
The Environment Agency confirmed that Abingdon lock, situated along the stretch between Sanford and Culham, would be inaccessible to boaters for approximately five months.
The closure period has been scheduled to commence on November 2, 2026, with a projected completion date of March 22, 2027.
During this timeframe, essential maintenance involving the re-sheeting of lock gates will be carried out.
According to documentation published by the Environment Agency on October 16, a substantial investment initiative has been planned for multiple facilities along the River Thames.
The programme, running from November 2026 through March 2027, encompasses six separate locks and aims to preserve the structural condition, ensure operational safety, and enhance the overall resilience of the waterway infrastructure.
Temporary suspension of navigation services will be necessary at several locations to facilitate these improvement works.
The authority indicated that efforts would be concentrated on optimizing available resources and coordinating scheduling to maximize the scope of improvements achievable within existing contractual arrangements and available funding allocations.
The announced schedule presently includes several other affected facilities.
Hambledon Lock faces two distinct closure periods: initially from November 2 through November 20, followed by a second phase spanning November 30 to December 17.
Marsh Lock will be unavailable from November 23 until December 18.
Temple Lock, Cookham Lock, and Boulters Lock are all scheduled for simultaneous closures extending from January 11 through March 22.
Officials acknowledged that the published closure timetable represents the present operational outlook and that adjustments may occur as detailed planning continues to develop.