[1] See under the river Oise for the continuation of the route; the junction is made downstream of the lock at Janville 49°27′27″N 2°51′34″E / 49.45750°N 2.85933°E / 49.45750; 2.85933.

When a canal is latéral (literally 'running beside'), it follows the course of the river it is named after but in a separate excavated channel.

The canal latéral was built in 1831 to provide a reliable navigation between Chauny and Janville, bypassing the winding course of the river Oise.

Initially built to smaller dimensions, the locks were later doubled and enlarged to the Freycinet standard.

[2] The 16-km length of the canal from Pont-l'Évêque to Janville (along with the river Oise beyond Janville to the confluence with the river Aisne) is projected to be replaced by the future high-capacity Seine–Nord Europe Canal.