Welland Recreational Waterway

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".

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.

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 (bridge 15). 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.

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.

Welland City Councillors placed a motorboat prohibition on the waterway known as the "Go Quietly" by-law, [cite web|url = http://www.welland.ca/ByLaws/2005-92.pdf |title = 2005-92 (City of Welland By-law) |accessdate = 2007-11-18 ] turning the former shipping canal into a safer, more tranquil waterway suitable for kayaking, rowing, canoeing and paddle boating.

The Welland Recreational Canal Corporation [cite web|url = http://www.wellandrecreationalwaterway.ca/index.html |title = Welland Recreational Canal Corporation |accessdate = 2007-11-18 ] is an organization who's board of directors is made up of three members of city council and six citizens. The corporation is responsible for the protection and development of the canal and adjacent lands, and has inaugurated various programs, including a canoe/paddle boat rental facility and numerous fishing platforms.

Future plans

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 Waterway Master Plan is available online [ cite web|url = http://www.wellandrecreationalcanalplan.ca/ |title = Welland Recreational Canal Master Plan |accessdate = 2007-11-18 ] and details proposals for the future of the canal.

References

External links

*The Welland Public Library's [http://www.welland.library.on.ca/digital/Chist.htm Canal history pages] contain many newspaper clippings and photos documenting the Welland Canal's history in general