Summary

Information about the 104km long canalised river Oise and the 34km long Canal latéral à l’Oise

Oise location map France

The river Oise extends 104km from its confluence with the Seine at Conflans-Sainte-Honorine (Fin d’Oise) to the connection with the Canal latéral à l’Oise at Janville (commune of Longueil-Annel). It is extended by the Canal latéral à l’Oise from Janville to connect with the Canal de Saint-Quentin at Chauny, a distance of 34km. The overall route is therefore 138 km long, and forms part of the important waterway route from the Seine to Northern France, Belgium and the Rhine. The Seine-Scheldt waterway is now to be upgraded to European Class Vb dimensions, with locks 185 by 12m, and the new Canal Seine-Nord Europe, which will replace the first the subject of considerable improvement works carried out in the 1960s to make the river navigable by large push-tows. A 2km length of the non-canalised river remains navigable upstream of Janville to serve a boatyard. It should be noted that the kilometre posts along the river are numbered from the upstream end of the Canal latéral à l’Oise. Thus the route description starts at 33.8km.
Junctions are made with the Canal de l’Oise à l’Aisne (PK 3) and with the Canal du Nord (PK 18.6). Forming part of the busy ‘north-south’ route between the Seine basin and northern France and Belgium, the canal has seen large-scale improvement works, like the Oise further downstream. The lower section from the junction with the Canal du Nord is to be further widened or rebuilt on a parallel path as part of the Seine-Nord Europe Canal.

River Oise region map

History – The river was navigated from the Middle Ages, but canalisation started only in 1835, with locks 41 by 6 m or 46 by 8 m. In 1910, a new set of locks 125 by 12 m were built, with limited depth (2.50 m, for a loading draught of 2.20 m). Starting in 1965, after the deeper Canal du Nord was opened, new locks 185 by 12 m were built, with a sill depth of 4m. Dredging in the river was not consistent throughout, and to prepare for the future Seine-Nord Europe Canal, all the weirs are being replaced, and a depth of 3.50 m is to be provided throughout. The canal latéral was built in 1831 to provide a complete itinerary between the Canal de Saint-Quentin and the Seine, and to avoid the winding course of the river Oise in this section. Initially to Becquey dimensions, locks were later doubled and enlarged to 39 by 6 m and 39 by 6.5 m at each fall, with a depth of 2.5m. With the opening of the Canal du Nord, it was decided to further improve the canal downstream of the junction with this new canal. The canal was given 20cm more depth and 5m extra width, and two new locks 100 by 12 m were built around 1970.

Essentials


Key Waterway Dimensions

  • Max Beam: 6.50m
  • Max Height: 4.10m
  • Max Draught: 2.40m

Navigation

Navigation This is mostly a grand gabarit waterway that is busy with large commercial peniches and push-tows.

Locks – There are seven locks on the River Oise, each with two large chambers side by side (185 by 12m and 125 by 12m) on a short diversion canal at the level of each weir. All locks are electrically-operated and controlled by lights. At Lock 1 (Venette) boats may be routed to the 125m chamber on the other side of the island ; the lock-keepers have no clear view of this lock, but remote monitoring and control equipment has been installed. The former small locks adjacent to the weirs have been eliminated.

On the Canal latéral à l’Oise, there are four electrically-operated locks. The two downstream of the junction with the Canal du Nord each have two parallel chambers, 125 by 12m and 39 by 6.50m. The two locks above the junction have two chambers of 39 by 6.50m.

Draught The maximum authorised draught is 3.00m from the confluence with the Seine up to Creil (PK 75), 2.50m from Creil to the confluence of the river Aisne, and 2.40m through to the end of the Canal latéral à l’Oise.

Headroom – The headroom under the bridges is at least 5.00m above normal water levels, reduced to 4.10m above the highest navigable water level. The same limit of 4.10 m applies on the lateral canal.

Towpath – There is a good towpath throughout.

Authority – VNF – Direction territoriale Bassin de la Seine
UTI Seine-Nord
–    79 Barrage de Venette, 60280 Venette (PK 34-110)
–    65 quai de l’Écluse, BP 74 , 95313 Cergy-Pontoise (PK 110-138)

Details+Map

Click to enlarge

river Oise waterway strip

Route description

River Oise

PK 138.2     Confluence with river Seine  (see plan right)
PK 138.0    Conflans-Sainte-Honorine bridge, barge moorings, town centre 1.5 km l/b
PK 137.6    Railway bridge (Pont Eiffel)
PK 136.7    Conflans-Fin-d’Oise quay and boatyards r/b, moorings l/b
PK 135.9    Bridge (Neuville bypass)
PK 134.8    Neuville-sur-Oise bridge, village l/b
PK 133.2    Jouy-le-Moutier quay r/b, village 700m
PK 131.5    Footbridge (Axe Majeur)
PK 129.5    Cergy-Pontoise bridge, town centre r/b
K 129.4    Port-Cergy marina r/b, & 01 34 24 11 77, www.portcergy.com, 103 berths, night €18.70, water, electricity, showers, slipway, repairs (on request)
PK 128.8    Bridge (D203)
PK 127.1    Skew railway bridge (RER regional metro)
PK 126.7    Éragny pontoon l/b, & 01 34 64 70 54, night €8, water, restaurant
PK 125.4    Bridge (Éragny)
PK 124.7    Motorway bridge (A15)
PK 124.6    Lock 7 (Pontoise), VHF 18, parallel chambers, weir r/b
PK 123.5    Railway bridge, public quay d/s r/b
PK 123.3    Pontoise bridge, town centre r/b (moor d/s of railway bridge)OiseIsleAdam2-Sanchalex
PK 121.8    Industrial quays l/b
PK 119.9    Railway bridge (Chaponval)
PK 116.5    Méry-Auvers bridge, private quays l/b
PK 113.8    Mériel road and railway bridge, village 400m l/b
PK 110.5    L’Isle-Adam bridge spanning three arms, navigation in central arm, moorings d/s l/b, water, electricity, slipway, small town 400m l/b, Parmain r/b
PK 109.7    Lock 6 (Isle-Adam), VHF 22, parallel chambers, weir l/b
PK 108.3    Island (Champagne), follow navigation signs
PK 106.2    Motorway bridge (A16)
PK 106.0    Bridge (D301 bypass)Compiegne Junction Plan Oise Aisne
PK 105.2    Thermal power station r/b, private quay
PK 104.6    Railway bridge
PK 104.0    Industrial quays
PK 103.3    Beaumont-sur-Oise bridge, quay u/s l/b, small town l/b
PK 102.4    Bridge (D929 Beaumont bypass)
PK 101.4    Industrial quays r/b
PK 100.0    Entrance to new cut bypassing river bend, l/b channel navigable (max draught 1.00m), Noisy-sur-Oise boat moorings on r/b of this arm between two bridges
PK 98.9    Bridge (Bruyères-sur-Oise) over new cut
PK 98.3    End of new cut
PK 96.5    Lock 5 (Boran), VHF 18, parallel chambers, weir l/b
PK 94.5    Boran-sur-Oise suspension bridge, village 400m r/b
PK 91.0    Public quay r/b
PK 90.2    Précy-sur-Oise suspension bridge, private quays u/s, village r/b
PK 88.0    Quay (Gouvieux) l/b
PK 86.1    Saint-Leu-d’Esserent suspension bridge, railway station and village 400m r/b
PK 84.0    Creil power station, coal unloading quay r/b
PK 83.5    Skew railway bridge (Laversine)
PK 81.9    Lock 4 (Creil), VHF 22, parallel chambers, weir l/b
PK 80.8    Bridge (D201 Creil bypass)
PK 79.9    Public quay (Long-Boyau) r/b, and industrial quays
PK 79.2    Creil bridge, town centre 500m l/b
PK 78.2    Bridge (D1016 Creil bypass), commercial quays u/s r/b
PK 75.7    Verneuil-en-Halatte suspension footbridge (Jean Biondi), quay d/s l/b for 2 boats, water, electricity, slipway, village 800m
PK 74.7    Industrial quays r/b (chemicals factory)
PK 73.6    Rieux quay r/b, village 400m beyond railway
PK 67.2    Pont-Sainte-Maxence bridge, small town l/b, commercial quays d/s
PK 65.8    Lock 3 (Sarron), bridge, VHF 18, parallel chambers, weir l/b, water
PK 62.0    Quay (Houdancourt) r/b
PK 58.7    Motorway bridge (A1)
PK 56.8    Railway viaduct (TGV Nord Europe)
PK 55.8    Verberie bridge, quay u/s l/b, village 500m
PK 54.8    Lock 2 (Verberie), VHF 22, parallel chambers, weir l/b
PK 53.9    Railway bridge, private quay d/s l/b
PK 49.9    Lacroix-Saint-Ouen suspension bridge, quay d/s r/b, village 1.5 km l/b
PK 49.0    Motorway bridge (D200)
PK 46.0    Jaux footbridge, port de plaisance r/b, 26 berths, & 03 44 83 70 30, night €11, water, electricity, showers, slipway, restaurant, village r/b
PK 44.1    Bridge (Compiègne bypass)
PK 43.2    Private quay r/b
PK 42.5    Venette quay r/b, village 400m
PK 42.3    End of lock-cut, navigation re-enters river
PK 42.0    Lock 1 (Venette), VHF 18, in lock-cut (125m long chamber) or r/b side of main river (196m), weir l/b
PK 41.5    Entrance to lock-cut r/b (navigation in both arms, new lock in main river)
PK 40.8    Boatyard (Guerdin) r/b, fuel
PK 40.5    Compiègne bridge, railway station r/b, town centre l/b
PK 39.7    Compiègne port de plaisance in basin l/b, 3 visitors’ berths, & 03 44 40 08 52, two nights free mooring, water, electricity, showers, slipway, wifi
PK 39.4    Railway bridge, commercial quays u/s r/b and d/s l/b
PK 38.3     Confluence of canalised river Aisne , l/b
PK 36.4    Clairoix bridge, private quay d/s r/b, village 1 km r/b
PK 35.2    R/b branch joins river Oise
PK 34.9    L/b branch joins river Oise (navigable u/s 2km to Longueil-Annel port de plaisance, 12 berths, & 03 44 76 02 19, water
PK 34.7    Janville bridge on r/b branch, village r/b beyond railway
PK 34.3    Canal divides, both branches navigable
PK 33.8     Connection with Canal latéral à l’Oise  (d/s of lock 4, Janville)
Navigation continues in the Canal latéral à l’Oise

Canal latéral à l’Oise

PK 33.8    Lock 4 (Janville), footbridge, VHF 22, parallel chambers

Janville Jonction plan Oise
PK 32.9    Longueil-Annel bridge, moorings d/s l/b, & 03 44 96 24 06, water, electricity, village r/b
PK 31.9    Thourotte bridge, quay u/s l/b, village r/b beyond railway
PK 31.3    Boatyard l/b
PK 30.6    Montmacq bridge, village 400m l/b
Montmacq is the site of the first lock on the new Seine-Nord Europe Canal. When completed, navigation will follow the river Oise and this length of the lateral canal will be closed to navigation.
PK 27.9    Bridge (Bellerive)
PK 28.3    Lock 3 (Bellerive), VHF 18, parallel chambers, basin d/s l/bAbbecourt Junction Canal de l'Oise Aisne Canal lateral à l'Oise
PK 27.4    Basin (Ribécourt) r/b, private quay
PK 26.6    Ribécourt bridge, quay u/s l/b, village 1 km r/b
PK 25.5    End of new cut
PK 24.9    Bridge (Rouilly)
PK 24.6    Entrance to new cut bypassing bend in old canal
PK 24.0    Pimprez bridge, village r/b
PK 21.9    Ourscamps bridge, quay u/s l/b, abbey 800m l/b
PK 20.5    Chiry bridge (Brûlé), village 1.5 km r/b
PK 18.6     Junction with Canal du Nord , r/b
The last 18km of the canal will remain in operation after completion of the Seine-Nord Europe Canal.
PK 18.2    Pont-l’Évêque basin r/b over footbridge, quays capacity 10 boats, water, electricity
PK 18.1    Lock 2 (Sempigny), VHF 22, parallel chambers, quay d/s r/b
PK 17.8    Sempigny bridge, quay u/s l/b, village 400m l/b
PK 17.0    Basin (Pierrot), moorings
PK 15.3    Noyon bridge (D934), basin and quays d/s, town centre 2.5 km r/b
PK 14.2    Bridge
PK 13.4    Varesnes bridge, quay u/s l/b, village 700m l/b
PK 11.6    Basin r/b, moorings
PK 11.0    Footbridge (Pont-à-la-Fosse)
PK 10.4    Babœuf bridge, quay d/s l/b
PK 9.0    Lock 1 (Saint-Hubert), VHF 18, parallel chambers
PK 8.2    Appilly bridge, quay u/s l/b, village 700m r/b
PK 6.6    Quierzy bridge, quays l/b, village 1 km l/b
PK 4.9    Manicamp bridge, quay d/s l/b, village 1 km l/b
PK 3.2    Bridge (Abbécourt)
PK 2.8     Junction with Canal de l’Oise à l’Aisne , l/b
PK 2.6    Abbécourt basin, moorings, boatyard, village 700m r/b
PK 0.6    Pipeline crossing
PK 0.2    Chauny port de plaisance (Alfred Leroux), 12 berths, & 03 23 39 32 32, night €8, water, electricity, showers €2, crane 3.2 t, slipway, wifi, restaurant
PK 0.0    Chauny bridge,  connection with Canal de Saint-Quentin , quay d/s l/b, town centre 500m r/b

 

 

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