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REDSTONE • REVIEW
JULY 14 / AUGUST 18, 2021
LYONS The 2nd Ave Bridge reopens after a total rebuild: It is one of the last projects to be completed after the flood By Susan de Castro McCann Redstone Review Editor “No man ever steps in the same river twice for it is not the same river and he is not the same man.” Heraclitus, Greek philosopher
LYONS – Over 70 people gathered at the top of the brand new 2nd Ave. Bridge in 90 plus degree heat to celebrate one of the last flood recovery projects 7 years and 10
in September 2020 to prime contractor, Zak Dirt Construction. Since breaking ground in October 2020, construction occurred throughout the following eight months, with final punch list items to be completed in July 2021. This particular bridge over the confluence of the North and South St Vrain Creeks, is a primary local connection to a significant portion of town facilities and residences, including two housing subdivisions, a local church, the recycling center, waste
building. “Including the 2nd Ave. Bridge, we’ve managed 108 flood projects, along with grant applications and requirements, that totaled $75 million,” Lyons Mayor Nick Angelo said. John Hickenlooper, who was serving as governor at the time of the flood and now a Colorado US senator, said to those gathered, “Lyons became the model for the entire state of what resiliency could mean. The next time we have a 100-year flood
These two poems, by local poets, were read at the dedication of the 2nd Ave. Bridge on July 8.
Listen to the Rivers By Vance French Listen to the rivers sing all the things the rivers bring to our little town: Two rivers harmonize turn to one before our eyes rains fall the rivers rise. Foothills ringing with the sounds of our little rivers our little town. Keep the rivers clean and free and hear them sing to you and me ripple in the morning sun to bring the rivers round full force ‘til they sing in hardy chorus. Listen to the rivers sing all the things the rivers bring all the happiness I own here in my little Lyons.
Tributaries of Strength By Sara Olson Ripple in stillness Stones define paths Floods change direction The water continues to flow Fires slither through the trees Currents whirlwind Paths are disrupted now The water continues to flow Stones, debris, footprints, air Slows, but never halts Rocky roads lead back home The water continues to flow
The long-awaited opening and dedication of the 2nd Ave. Bridge took place on a very hot July 8, 2021, 7 years after it was destroyed in the flood of 2013. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE OFFICE OF SENATOR JOHN HICKENLOOPER months after the 500 year flood ripped the water treatment plant, and Bohn Park with here, this bridge will stand through the small town of Lyons into a pool of discon- approximately 55 acres of Town parkland. whole thing– I guarantee it.” nected islands. Flood manager Tracy Sanders, said the The 2nd Ave Bridge was dedicated in The infrastructure was decimated. There town has three flood recovery projects left honor of James L. Blankenship, who was no electricity, no running water, no to complete: replacing a pedestrian bridge served as the Town Engineer from 2002 to sewer and almost no connecting roads. on Fourth Avenue and Evans Street; a 2019. He died of cancer two years ago. Lyons Mayor, Julie Van DoAdministrator Simonsen molen was on an assignment said she had worked firstfor the World Bank in Africa. hand and side by side with And so many hundreds of Jim Blankenship and she people, groups, organizations saw throughout the flood, came to help. They even how thorough Jim was came from other countries. about every detail. His paEveryone thought that the perwork was always in order town would be rebuilt and all the FEMA (Federal stronger and better in about Emergency Management 3 years, possibly 4. I don’t Agency) forms were filled think that anyone on that out correctly. She said she day after the flood thought saw firsthand how Blankenthat we would all be standing ship worked tirelessly to on the rebuilt 2nd Ave. help repair the town followBridge eight years later celeing the disaster. brating the new bridge. When Blankenship heard Town Administrator Vic- Friends of Lyons, Congressman Joe Neguse and Senator John Hickennews of the flood he tried to toria Simonsen, started her looper were present for the event. Visible to their left is the temporary get to town, when roads were speech with the quote above, plaque marking the dedication of the bridge in honor of Jim Blakenship. torn away and underwater by Heroclitis. She said that PHOTO BY CATHY RIVERS and the entire town evacuthe 2nd Ave. Bridge was origated, Simonsen recalled. He inally built in 1973 as a temrode in on huge National porary bridge and it was never meant to last storm water project in Bohn Park; and a Guard truck. “like a knight in shining armor.” as long as it did. The 139-foot bridge had backup power project for the public works “Honestly, I’m not sure if he ever went cracks in all of the pilings supporting the original structure and had to be rebuilt. Following the 500+-year flood of 2013, 2nd Ave Bridge was rebuilt to be more resilient and able to withstand a 100-year flood event. During the 2013 flood event, debris built up on the piers of the 2nd Ave. Bridge, which caused flooding of the Town’s Wastewater Treatment Plant, destroying the Town’s Public Works Storage building and equipment, and completely washing away the McConnell Bridge downstream. The 2nd Ave. Bridge was designed and constructed to allow for higher stream All Stages of Tree Care flows and debris to pass so that infrastrucResidential & Mountain Properties ture downstream will not be destroyed. The reconstructed bridge was primarily Bryan Baer funded through FEMA with some assisISA Certified Arborist tance from the State’s Community DevelINSURED PROFESSIONAL opment Block Grant – Disaster Recovery www.baerforestry.com program, totaling $3.1 million. (303)823-8088 (630)725-8753 (cell) The construction project was awarded ■
home in those first few weeks. During that time, Jim was devoted to helping assess the damage and determining how to restore water and temporary wastewater (treatment) so that our residents could come home. Jim worked tirelessly so that this bridge wasn’t simply repaired. He insisted it be replaced, higher and without piers to protect residents in the next disaster, Simonsen said.” The bridge’s completion is a testament to just a portion of Blankenship’s work to help Lyons, she said. A temporary plaque for Blankenship was shown when Senator Hickenlooper spoke during the dedication for the bridge on Thursday. The plaque will be replaced with a permanent bronze version in the future. “To some of us this is a street that’s finally re-opening, for others it’s the end of a project, but likely this structure is also symbolic in other ways: bridging the past and future, demonstrating the strength of a community, reconnecting two neighborhoods,” Simonsen said. Senator Hickenlooper said, “Lyons is back.”
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