 A report entitled " A Statement of the Situation of the Works of the Manchester , Bolton and Bury Canal , on the Eighteenth of December , 1795 . " gives details of the progress of the works , including details of bridges , cuttings , raised bankings and aqueducts . Much of the document details the work required to convert the canal to broad gauge . A 5 @.@ 75 @-@ mile ( 9 @.@ 25 km ) length between Oldfield Lane in Salford and Giants Seat Locks in Outwood was navigable with 3 ft 8 in ( 1 @.@ 12 m ) of water . The remaining work included strengthening work to the banks , an increase of water depth to 5 feet ( 1 @.@ 5 m ) , and the gravelling of half of the towpath . Between Giants Seat locks and Ringley Bridge two locks had been erected , with a small section of canal to be broadened before becoming navigable . From Ringley Bridge to Prestolee Aqueduct one lock had been erected . Nob End Locks were still under construction but mostly complete , although the basin at the bottom had not yet been dug . The stretch to Bolton had at this time been widened , with several bridges requiring further work , incomplete embankments , construction of a weir , and gravelling of the towpath . On the Bury arm , almost the entire length had been dug , and walls to support the canal along the bank of the Irwell had been built . Some widening of previously narrow sections had yet to be undertaken , none of the towpath had been gravelled , and no fences had been erected along the towpath . 
