A flotilla of boats from the St Pancras Cruising Club and the Three Mills Mooring Association were the first public boats through the lock on Saturday (July 31).
City Mill Lock now links Waterworks River, which is one of a network of waterways that connect the Olympic Park with the River Lee Navigation, and from there the rest of the UK’s inland waterway network of canals and rivers.
The reopening of this lock is the next phase in the regeneration of the canals and rivers of East London.
British Waterways’ head of regeneration, Richard Rutter, said: “It’s fantastic to see the lock reopened after such a long time.
“The first phase of the restoration involved the fitting of new metal gates, and then, when more funding was secured we were able to finish off the project.
“Installing mechanised electric rams, sluices, lock landings, controls and lock ladders.”
“This second stage took approximately six months, and now we will be focussing our attention on Carpenters Road Lock within the Olympic Park.”
Luke Walsh