[2] The final part of the route to the original outlet at Grangemouth Docks had been obliterated by the construction of a motorway, a road, housing, and factories.

This provided limited headroom when the tide was high and insufficient water to enter the lock when it was low; an alternative route was therefore sought.

[3] The opportunity to remedy the situation and to make the eastern end of the canal more accessible to the general public was provided by the Big Lottery Fund Living Landmarks programme.

[4] The project was designed to transform under-used land between Falkirk and Grangemouth into a thriving urban greenspace called "The Helix".

Another £1 million contract for the visitor centre was awarded to Nicholl Russell Studios, a firm of architects based in Dundee.

Another inspiration was the fact that Carnera, the UK's largest Clydesdale horse, once resided in Falkirk, hauling wagons of the soft drink Irn-Bru for Robert Barr.

[10] By December 2012, the channel for the canal link had been excavated, and the first major artwork was erected in the Abbotshaugh Community Woodland in early 2013.