THE first navigable aqueduct to be built in the south west for almost 200 years was officially opened at Semington on Wednesday.
Fleur de Rhe Philipe, Wiltshire County Council cabinet member for the environment, opened the aqueduct, which carries the Kennet and Avon canal over the new Semington bypass.
Mrs de Rhe Philipe said: "It is a great privilege to formally open the new aqueduct to canal traffic.
"This is the first modern aqueduct to be built in Wiltshire or indeed the south west of England, and is the first navigable aqueduct to be built in the region for almost 200 years.
"It really is an incredible feat of engineering.
"We have used the very latest technology and the most up-to-date construction methods to build a structure for an historic method of transport. It will be quite a sight to see narrowboats travelling over the top of the new road."
The aqueduct, built from concrete and containing 529 tonnes of steel reinforcement, is part of the £12m Semington bypass project.
The outer layers of concrete on the aqueduct have been coloured and moulded to replicate the limestone used for local buildings so it fits in with the surroundings.
The Semington bypass, due to open to traffic at the end of March, is expected to carry more than 18,000 vehicles a day that currently pass through the village.
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