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[[File:Welland By-Pass.jpg|thumb|300 px|right|The Welland By-pass's straight and unobstructed channel outside Welland.]]

The '''Welland By-pass''', completed in 1973, was a massive construction project on the [[Welland Canal]] in [[Ontario]], [[Canada]].

A new channel {{convert|13.4|km|mi|abbr=on}} long was constructed, providing a shorter, more direct alignment between [[Port Robinson, Ontario|Port Robinson]] and [[Port Colborne]] and by-passing downtown [[Welland]]. The project helped improve navigation along the canal and alleviated problems the presence of a busy [[ship canal]] was causing in Welland.

==Background==
 
Although the city of Welland had originally grown around the canal, by the 1960s the constant interruptions in the flow of the vehicular and rail traffic through the city became bothersome. A single ship would hold up traffic for at least ten minutes as it travelled under a [[vertical lift bridge]]. In periods of heavy ship traffic, a bridge might stay raised for multiple ships to pass, and long lines of cars, trucks and buses could be delayed more than 30 minutes. Additionally, many railroad yards and lines originally built on Welland's outskirts now found themselves in the middle of a growing city; the heavily used rail lines from [[Toronto]] to [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]] were suffering delays, as well.
 
The old route, established in 1932 with the building of the [[Welland Canal#Fourth (current) Welland Canal|fourth Welland Canal]], was also inconvenient to the ships since it was twisting and narrow. The five vertical lift bridges and a railroad [[swing bridge]], all within close distance of one another, made the manoeuvring tricky and the journey stressful. Captains complained of bulky buildings on the canal's edge blocking the line of sight. One of them commented, "The main thing every Lakes captain used to dread was [[Welland Canal, Bridge 15|Bridge 15]] [built during the 3rd canal era, but in use until 1972], a railway bridge in the town of Welland with an abutment in the middle... I think every captain on the Lakes must have [scraped it] at one time or another."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.welland.library.on.ca/digital/clipping/source/bypass/11088.jpg |format=JPG| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051222140515/http://www.welland.library.on.ca/digital/clipping/source/bypass/11088.jpg | archive-date=2005-12-22 | title=New Welland Canal bypass will replace hazards of the old section}}</ref>

==Construction==
 
The by-pass project was a massive undertaking: 16.2&nbsp;km² (4,000&nbsp;[[acre]]s) of land was expropriated for the construction. Approximately 50&nbsp;million&nbsp;[[cubic metre]]s of material was excavated. The new channel is {{convert|100|m|ft|abbr=on}} wide, as compared to the {{convert|58|m|ft|abbr=on}} width of the old channel. The channel's minimum depth is {{convert|9|m|ft|abbr=on}}. Two tunnels, the '''[[Main Street Tunnel (Welland)|Main Street Tunnel]]''' and the '''[[Townline Tunnel]]''', were constructed to allow vehicles and trains to pass beneath the canal.

To complement this, an [[aqueduct (water supply)|aqueduct]], to convey the [[Welland River]] under the new canal alignment, was built. The aqueduct's design is what is known as a four-tube inverted-syphon culvert, {{convert|200|m|ft|abbr=on}} long, {{convert|28|m|ft|abbr=on}} wide, and extending {{convert|9|m|ft|abbr=on}} below the navigation channel. It was constructed from 30,000&nbsp;cubic&nbsp;metres of concrete. Approximately {{convert|1.6|km|mi|abbr=on}} of new river channel was constructed to route the river into the aqueduct. The creation of the syphon culvert lowered ground water levels for miles around, the project making many dug wells run dry. The St. Lawrence Seaway Authority denied responsibility, but paid many residents to have a drilled well installed to supply their water (based on local witnesses).

[[File:Welland Dock.jpg|thumb|350px|right|A ship at the Welland Dock. A concrete bank can be seen on the left.]]

In compensation for the loss of canal banks through the city of Welland, parts of which were being used as a docking area by local industries, the project incorporated a dock, separated from the main travel route.

Many of the area's rail lines, which had previously been constructed to fit around the existing alignment, had to be dramatically altered for the new alignment. An estimated {{convert|161|km|mi|abbr=on}} of new track was laid at a cost of [[Canadian dollar|CAD$]]50&nbsp;million. A [[Google Maps|Google map]] is available which shows the changes to the rail network as a result of the canal relocation, as well as changes made since.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=112122431676358120996.0004404f9b3d6957cb2a7|title=Welland Canal Relocation - Rail Network Changes}}</ref> This map also details the old and new routes of the canal.
 
The construction started with the sinking of the first shovel on June 9, 1967, and continued for six years. (During construction, a giant "Earth mover" working on the canal, accidentally struck and ruptured a buried natural gas line, which erupted into a torch-like flame approx 90–100 meters high; there were no injuries.) In a symbolic event watched by many residents, on a snowy night, Bridge #13 on Welland's East Main Street came up for the last time, lighted by floodlights, on December 15, 1972, the new bypass would be open to shipping for the next season. (The bridge was actually quietly opened the next day to allow the passage of a [[St. Lawrence Seaway]] service vessel.)
 
The Main Street Tunnel was officially opened on May 20, 1972, with the Townline Tunnel following on July 13. Rail traffic through the Townline Tunnel was inaugurated on January 31, 1973. The new canal was first traversed by the [[CCGS Griffon|Canadian Coast Guard cutter ''Griffon'']] on March 27, 1973.<ref>{{Cite news  | title = Coast Guard Cutter Griffen First Ship Through Pypass ''(sic)''  | newspaper = Evening Tribune | pages = 7A  | date = 1973-07-13}}</ref>  The first commercial ship to pass through the by-pass was the M.V. Senneville on March 28, 1973. It carried a cargo of 1,063,868 bushels of barley in transit from [[Duluth, Minnesota]] to [[Port Cartier, Quebec]].<ref>{{Cite news | title = Senneville was the First Commercial Vessel to use the New Canal Bypass | newspaper = Evening Tribune | pages = 11A | date = 1973-07-13}}</ref>  The official opening ceremony for the Welland By-pass took place on July 14, 1973.
 
Overall, the project cost approximately CAD$188&nbsp;million. The new channel reduced the length of the canal by {{convert|1.3|km|mi|abbr=on}} and replaced six bridge crossings with the two new tunnels. It reduced the transit time through the Welland Canal by about 30&nbsp;minutes (5%) as compared to the old alignment.

==Outcomes==
 
The Welland By-pass markedly simplified ship passage along the Welland Canal. The city was no longer dependent on often erratic ship schedules. (For instance, a scheduled city-wide bus service was only instituted after the relocation.)
 
A decision had to be made as to the use of the old alignment. Originally, one of the proposed ideas was for it to be filled in and an extension to [[Ontario Highway 406|Highway 406]] be run in it. That never came to be, and instead the old canal was turned over to the city and renamed the [[Welland Recreational Waterway]].

Recently, the city has seen the construction of a new Civic Centre, including the [[city hall]] and the [[public library]] downtown by the old canal.

Since the opening of the by-pass, Welland's east side has become a virtual island; separated from the rest of the [[Niagara Peninsula]] by the old canal channel to the west and by the by-pass channel to the east.

==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 Canal's history in general, and [http://www.welland.library.on.ca/digital/clipping/bypaclip.htm the construction of the By-pass] in particular.
*[http://www.niagararails.com/maps.shtml Railway Maps], including maps outlining the By-pass project.

==References==
{{reflist}}
* ''Citation of sources for Google map linked in the '''Construction''' section (produced for the benefit of this article);''
**    {{cite book
  | last = Greenwald
  | first = Michelle
  | title = The Welland Canals
  | publisher = Historical Planning and Research Branch, Ontario Ministry of Culture and Recreation
  | year = 1977
  | location = Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  | isbn = 0-7743-3238-7}}
** {{cite web |url= http://www.canadasouthern.com/caso/welland.htm|title= Canada Southern Photo Page - Welland |accessdate=2007-12-02 }}
** {{cite web |url = http://www.niagararails.com|title = Niagara Rails | accessdate = 2007-11-25}}
** Exact placement of tracks determined from Google maps satellite images

{{Welland Canal}}

[[Category:Welland Canal]]