There were problems of congestion at Smethwick caused by the time taken to traverse the locks and with supplying sufficient water to the summit level. John Smeaton was engaged to advise on a solution. He specified a 1000-yard cutting through the top eighteen feet of the summit, eliminating three locks from each end, and doubling the capacity of the descent at Smethwick locks by building a parallel flight of three locks, in use until the 1960s.
Challenges arose at Smethwick due to delays in navigating the locks and ensuring sufficient water supply to the summit level. John Smeaton was consulted to find a solution. He suggested a 1000-yard excavation through the top eighteen feet of the summit, removing three locks from each end, and increasing the descent capacity at Smethwick locks by building a parallel set of three locks, which remained in use until the 1960s.