The original canal and its successors were a major growth factor for the city of Toronto. The canals allowed for goods from the Great Lakes to ports at cities such as Cleveland, Detroit and Chicago. Ships would travel as far north to the ports of Quebec City or Montreal, and the goods these ships provide would be reloaded onto ocean-going vessels in order to pass through international waters such as the Atlantic Ocean.

Misc. Facts

• There are three "vertical lift" bridges crossing the Canal – at Glendale Avenue in St. Catharines, Highway 20 in Allanburg and at Clarence Street in Port Colborne.
• Vertical lift bridges involve weights suspended at either end, dropping to pull up the entire bridge 36.6 metres (120 feet).
• Three tunnels pass under the Welland Canal – the Thorold Tunnel and the Main Street and Townline Tunnels in Welland.
  
• Common cargos are grain, iron ore, coal salt, stone, iron and steel.
  
• Tolls for passage vary from $19,000 to $38,000 for a loaded cargo ship or barge, depending on gross tonnage, and cargo type and approximately $1,500 for a small passenger ship.
  

Administration of the system is shared by two entities, the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corp. in the U.S., a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation, and The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation in Canada, a not-for-profit corporation (ownership of the Canadian portion of the Seaway remains with the Canadian federal government.)

A walking and biking path is available for those that wish to visit the Lock as well as a road for driving.