Welland Recreational Waterway
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The Welland Recreational Waterway is a water channel in the city of Welland, Ontario, Canada. It is an old alignment of the Welland Ship Canal that has been abandoned after the construction of the Welland By-Pass in the 1970s. The Waterway is now managed by the Welland Recreational Canal Corporation to provide enjoyment for the city's residents. Most local residents refer to it as the old canal or simply the canal.
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[edit] Original plans
The bottom of the canal was at a time proposed to become a roadbed for an extension of Highway 406. However, that never came to be and the old canal was retained in an almost original state with the purpose of developing several recreational facilities and tourist attractions along its shores. The plans called for fishing platforms, water slides, boat rental points, as well as marine and rail historical exhibits. To date, most of these plans are unrealised.
[edit] Changes
Some changes had to made to the Waterway's shape due to the By-Pass' requirements. The most significant one is an earth plug across the Waterway at Townline Road. This is necessary due to very long (4 km, or 2.5 miles) approaches to the Townline Tunnel. The long approaches are necessary due to low grade required for trains to travel underneath the new canal.
As multiple leaking problems were surfacing with the aqueduct that carries the Welland River underneath the old alignment, it was decided to control the problem by drilling intentional holes in the aqueduct. As a result, the Welland River downstream of the aqueduct is partially fed from the canal, and the flow in the northern section of the Waterway has reversed to compensate for the water flowing into the river.
The old alignment was originally spanned by five vertical lift bridges and a railroad swing bridge. After the relocation, two of the bridges were replaced by modern fixed-span bridges and another had its towers removed due to excessive cost of potential renovation. Two more bridges were built in the northern section of the Waterway, and a bridge was constructed in downtown Welland to twin the East Main Street bridge.
[edit] The Waterway today
Today, pedestrian and bicycle pathways line both banks of the Waterway. A section that is particularly popular is the path on Merritt Island, a carefully cared for, elongated strip of land created when the old alignment of the canal was constructed basically parallel to the Welland River. Signs outlining the path and listing local attractions have been erected along the paths.
In a stunning move, Welland City Coucillors placed a motorboat prohibition on the waterway. This unpopular By-law has created a deep divide amongst the citizens and City Hall as for many years the Canal was home to thriving recreation boating activities.
The canal banks are the host of the Niagara Food Festival that takes place on the Merritt Island every fall.
[edit] Future plans
Recently, the Waterway is seen as a crucial part of plans for revival of downtown Welland. The Civic Square, housing the city hall and the library, was newly built by the canal. The Welland Recreational Canal Corporation is currently in the process of putting four buoyant fishing platforms along the canal, including two by the civic square and more similar structures are planned to be constructed next spring. Other plans include a paddle boat rental that will operate in summer months and general improvements to the canal banks.
[edit] External link
- The Welland Public Library's Canal history pages contain many newspaper clippings and photos documenting the Welland Canal's history in general, and the Recreational Waterway Development in particular.
