As well as being important to local traffic in Welland, the bridge also links East Main Street (leading towards Niagara Falls) and West Main Street (providing access to roads leading along the Welland River to Wainfleet and Wellandport.

[7] The bridge is 70.6 metres (232 ft) long and has a skew of approximately 22.5 degrees - meaning that the towers and span are off square by this amount.

Ships failing to negotiate the curve, on at least a couple of occasions, collided with the western approach span.

The Welland Public Library holds a file of newspaper clippings regarding such collisions, including one where the ship Atomena collided with the bridge in 1970.

In the late evening hours of December 15, 1972, the Main Street Bridge raised to allow the passage of the Georgian Bay - officially the last ship through the city of Welland.

[1] Following the closure of the canal at the end of the 1972 shipping season, Bridge 13 was locked permanently in the lowered position.

The stairs leading to the control cabin were removed to prevent trespassing and vehicular traffic continued to cross the bridge, without interruption from passing ships.

Even though the bridge towers no longer serve any practical purpose, their preservation has been given a priority owing to their historical significance.

With the closure of many Welland industries and the resultant increase in numbers of persons in need, the downtown area has become home to organizations such as Goodwill and similar service groups, as opposed to significant private enterprise.

Recently, a community volunteer initiative has reclaimed a neglected parkette along the west bank of the Welland Recreational Canal, just south of Bridge 13.

Named "Guerrilla Park"[12] by the volunteers, it has become a destination for one of the best views of this bridge, especially when lit up at night.

[13] Recommendations for development of the bridge include installing elevators to provide access to the top of the towers as a lookout.

New LED lighting fixtures have been mounted on the bridge which can change colours to mark special holidays or occasions.