Then: Canal Bridge Construction

In the 1960s, discussion began about the need for another roadway to run east-west in the city. Thorold Stone Road and Lundy's Lane were operating near capacity. Morrison Street started at River Road and ran all the way to Drummond Road, but didn't cross the hydro canal. At the same time, concerns were raised about the condition of the Portage Road bridge over the canal. Attempts to keep the bridge in operation with load restrictions had failed, as heavy vehicles continued to use it, weakening it structurally.

A plan was conceived to reroute Morrison between Portage and Drummond, and extend it all the way to Dorchester Road by constructing a new bridge. Portage Road would also be realigned to veer west and connect to Morrison instead of needing its own bridge to cross the canal. Businesses and citizens lobbied heavily to keep the Portage bridge open, to prevent loss of traffic for businesses, and to preserve the original path of the historic Portage Road. After years of studies and proposals, the bridge was reduced to a single lane, then pedestrian access only, then closed. By January 1985 it had been demolished.

Now: Mullen Garden Market

The Mullen Garden Market, which backs on the hydro canal, is just west of the Morrison bridge.

Niagara Falls Public Library. 2017. Niagara Falls - Then & Now: A Photographic Journey Through The Years. [Canal Bridge Construction// Mullen Garden Market].

Niagara Falls Then and Now
A collaborative project
Niagara Falls Museums - Niagara Falls Public Library - Dept. of Geography and Tourism Studies,Brock University.
Original newspaper series by Sherman Zavitz, Official Historian for the City of Niagara Falls from 1994 - 2019.

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