St. Catharines
Glendale bridge (no. 5), Library and Archives Canada
Glendale Avenue Bridge
The Glendale Avenue Bridge (no. 5) is a vertical lift bridge that carries vehicles and pedestrians over the canal in the community of Merritton in St. Catharines. It was built around the time that the other vertical lift bridges were constructed over the fourth Welland Canal and remains in use.
Lock 3 and Glendale Bridge (no. 5) in the distance. Library and Archives Canada
Homer Bridge (no. 4)
Homer Bridge
The Homer Bridge (bridge no. 4) was built over the fourth Welland canal. Construction was completed in June 1928. It is different from many of the other bridges built over the canal at this time. Many felt that a rolling lift bridge, instead of a vertical lift bridge, would be preferable at this site because of its pleasing appearance. This crossing would link the United States with Toronto via Highway 8 (later the Queen Elizabeth Way) and would carry many American tourists, a factor which was likely taken into account when selecting the bridge design.
General plan for a Scherzer rolling lift bridge at Queenston Rd. (Homer bridge)
Homer Bridge in open position, May 31, 1928. Library and Archives Canada
Garden City Skyway
By the 1950s, it was clear that the Homer Bridge was no longer sufficient to carry the ever-increasing traffic over the canal. While many spots in St. Catharines were experiencing traffic congestion due to raised bridges at this time, this site was the most problematic. Passing ships would cause significant traffic jams. In 1954, the St. Catharines and District Chamber of Commerce declared their intention to continue to make the federal Department of Transport aware of the issue. In 1958, the provincial Ministry of Highways announced that a high-level bridge would be built at Bridge 4, Queenston Street. Construction on the skyway began in 1960 and opened to traffic in 1963. The skyway carries traffic from the Queen Elizabeth Way, connecting the United States to Toronto. The Homer bridge is located to the south of the skyway and remains in operation.
Currently, the Ministry of Transportation is looking at twinning the skyway within the next five years. This would see a second bridge built on the north side of the existing skyway. Both bridges would be used to carry traffic, one for Toronto bound vehicles and the other for Fort Erie bound vehicles. This project would add more lanes for high-occupancy vehicles, see the reinstatement of truck-climbing lanes, and allow repair work on the existing bridge without halting highway traffic.
Homer Bridge, before the Skyway
Postcard showing the Garden City Skyway and Homer Bridge