St. Catharines in Niagara Region, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

The Fourth Welland Canal

An Outstanding Canadian Engineering Achievement

Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, July 27, 2014

1. The Fourth Welland Canal Marker

Inscription.

The Fourth Welland Canal. An Outstanding Canadian Engineering Achievement. A tribute to Canadian engineering design and construction, the Fourth Welland Canal was built to permit passage of ships between Lakes Ontario and Erie, bypassing Niagara Falls. Constructed in the period 1913 - 1932 at a cost of $130 million, it incorporates systems of locks, weirs, moveable bridges, and a power house. The Canal which is 43.4 km (27 miles) in length, overcomes a difference in elevation between the two lakes of 99.5 m (326 feet) by means of seven lift locks and one control lock. It was officially opened to navigation on August 6, 1932. , The original project work was done under the supervision of Chief Engineers W.A. Bowden and Colonel A.E. Dubuc of the Federal Department of Railways and Canals, and Engineers-in-Charge of Construction J.L. Weller and A.J. Grant, MEIC. , , Canal lock gates are either strut- or cable-operated. The gates at the north (lower) end of this lock are strut-operated, those at the south end cable-operated. The pair of cast steel sheaves standing adjacent to this tablet is similar to ones used at the bottom (submerged) free end of a cable-operated gate. This assembly weighs approximately 2460 kg (5420 lbs.). A similar but differently-mounted pair of sheaves is located at the upper free end of each cable-operated gate. Two steel wire ropes pass over the sheaves to open and close the gate. Electrically driven counter-rotating drums activate the ropes - one drum reels in one rope as the second pays out the other, causing movement of the gate., [Caption for lower photo:] The twin Flight Locks No.4, 5, and 6 where the ships climb the Niagara Escarpment, overcoming a vertical distance of 42.5m (139.5 ft.). The vessel on the left is downbound, the one on the right is upbound in Lock No.4 West. The twin bascule bridges carry main railway lines. the tall surge tank on the right stands behind the power house., [Caption for diagram on right:] Schematic diagram showing the operation of a cable-operated lock gate. Only one gate leaf is shown, in a partially-closed position., Presented to the St.Catharines Museum by The Engineering Institute of Canada and its Member Societies. , November 29, 1996

A tribute to Canadian engineering design and construction, the Fourth Welland Canal was built to permit passage of ships between Lakes Ontario and Erie, bypassing Niagara Falls. Constructed in the period 1913 - 1932 at a cost of $130 million, it incorporates systems of locks, weirs, moveable bridges, and a power house. The Canal which is 43.4 km (27 miles) in length, overcomes a difference in elevation between the two lakes of 99.5 m (326 feet) by means of seven lift locks and one control lock. It was officially opened to navigation on August 6, 1932.
The original project work was done under the supervision of Chief Engineers W.A. Bowden and Colonel A.E. Dubuc of the Federal Department of Railways and Canals, and Engineers-in-Charge of Construction J.L. Weller and A.J. Grant, MEIC.
* * * *
Canal lock gates are either strut- or cable-operated. The gates at the north (lower) end of this lock are strut-operated, those at the south end cable-operated. The pair of cast steel sheaves standing adjacent to this tablet is similar to ones used at the bottom (submerged) free end of a cable-operated gate. This assembly weighs approximately 2460 kg (5420 lbs.). A similar but differently-mounted pair of sheaves is located at the upper free end of each cable-operated gate. Two steel wire ropes pass over the sheaves to open and close the

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gate. Electrically driven counter-rotating drums activate the ropes - one drum reels in one rope as the second pays out the other, causing movement of the gate.

[Caption for lower photo:] The twin Flight Locks No.4, 5, and 6 where the ships climb the Niagara Escarpment, overcoming a vertical distance of 42.5m (139.5 ft.). The vessel on the left is downbound, the one on the right is upbound in Lock No.4 West. The twin bascule bridges carry main railway lines. the tall surge tank on the right stands behind the power house.

[Caption for diagram on right:] Schematic diagram showing the operation of a cable-operated lock gate. Only one gate leaf is shown, in a partially-closed position.

Presented to the St.Catharines Museum by The Engineering Institute of Canada and its Member Societies.
November 29, 1996

Erected 1996 by The Engineering Institute of Canada and its Member Societies.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Man-Made Features • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the The Welland Canals series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1913.

Location. 43° 9.367′ N, 79° 11.647′ W. Marker is in St. Catharines, Ontario, in Niagara Region. It can be reached from Welland Canals

Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, July 27, 2014

2. The Fourth Welland Canal Marker

Parkway, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located on the grounds of the St. Catharines Museum & Welland Canals Centre. Marker is at the corner of the north end of the wide cement walkway parallel to the canal. It is at the beginning of an oval path along which are placed artifacts and markers. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1932 Welland Canals Parkway, St Catharines ON L2R7K6, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe

and in Niagara Canada.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Bollard (a few steps from this marker); Cannon Barrel (a few steps from this marker); William Hamilton Merritt 1793 - 1862 (a few steps from this marker); How it Works: Operations and Safety (within shouting distance of this marker); The St. Lawrence Seaway (within shouting distance of this marker); Global Irish Famine Way (within shouting distance of this marker); How It Works: Locking Through (within shouting distance of this marker); Welland Ship Canal (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Catharines.

Regarding The Fourth Welland Canal. Re the use of struts (in the inscription): after this plaque was created, the canal was upgraded; now all lock gates are controlled via struts (rather than cables).

Also see . . .
1. St. Catharines Museum & Welland Canal Centre. (Submitted on August 8, 2014, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.)

Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, July 27, 2014

3. The Fourth Welland Canal Marker

Northward

2. Welland Canal - Wikipedia. (Submitted on August 8, 2014, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 8, 2014, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York. This page has been viewed 706 times since then and 39 times this year. Last updated on September 3, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 8, 2014, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.