The Five Bridges

The Race Course begins just across from the Welland Community Boathouse (just south of the old Thorold Road boat launch @ the end of Thorold Rd) with a naturally scenic 1.5 km stretch of open water running beside beautiful Merritt Island and over the Historic Aqueduct to the Civic Square.  It then proceeds under five bridges travelling 3.7 km south through the heart of the City of Welland to the Finish Line on the North Course of the Welland International Flatwater Centre.

The first bridge is the Historic Main St. Bridge, with its towering steel frame, with the Division Street Bridge just 150 metres away as you pass through the City's Downtown Core.  Opening up after the Division St. Bridge the Recreational Waterway then affords you a 750 metre stretch of uninterrupted water before coming to the Lincoln Bridge.  A quick pass under the main columns of the bridge takes you into the community recreation portion of the waterway with another 750 metre stretch of open water before having to navigate the historic Railway Swing Bridge and the Broadway Bridge.  The waterway then immediately enters the North Course of the Welland International Flatwater Centre and competitors have approximately 1.2 km remaining to make their move!

There is only one way to pass under the Main St., and Railway Swing Bridge.  The Division St., Broadway and Lincoln Bridge provide for alternate passage under each bridge within the buoyed course and either passage may be used when one passage appears congested.

To see the layout of the North Course, click here: Head of the Welland Overview & Traffic Pattern or see below.

To see profiles of the Five Bridges and how to row under each bridge,click here: Bridge and Traffic Key
 

Please check out our feature video of the Head of the Welland. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESuoB_QZ6SM 

Also check a virtual course tour which was taken from an actual race down the course. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HA0GpAtY2gE&t=1s