Port Colborne
In 1929, two vertical lift bridges were constructed in Port Colborne to accommodate traffic over the fourth Welland Canal. The bridges were situated next to one another. Bridge 20 was built by the Canadian National Railway for freight and passenger traffic. Bridge 21, also known as the Clarence Street bridge, was designed for cars. These bridges connected the east and west sides of the city.
In the mid-1990s, construction of the Port Colborne Harbour Railway was completed. This connected Port Colborne to railway lines on the western side of the canal. Bridge 20 was no longer necessary and was removed in 1997. Bridge 21 remains in use today and is one of three operating vertical lift bridges over the Welland Canal.
Aerial view of the Port Colborne lift bridges, ca. 1930
Welland Canal Lantern Slide regarding the Port Colborne Bridge
This cartoon illustrates the debate over the placement of the traffic bridge in Port Colborne. Alexander James Grant ("A.J"), Chief Engineer of the Welland Canal, is shown on the left. The Port Colborne Mayor, local MP, and businessmen petitioned for a bridge at Clarence Street, but many citizens wanted it at Fraser Street instead. Clarence Street prevailed.
Port Colborne lift bridges prior to the removal of Bridge 20 in 1997