Yesterday’s storm takes out Forest Hill Park bridge and leads to water rescue
The bridge in question is not the Harvey Family Memorial bridge.
The two incidents don’t appear to be related other than the cause, heavy rains. The RTD is reporting that a wooden bridge spanning Reedy creek was taken out by surging water and a man needed help extricating himself from the rocks mid-creek.
The wooden bridge about 100 yards downstream from the 3600 block of Forest Hill Avenue appears to have broken in half, and two sections washed ashore on either side of the raging creek.
The site was near a rescue operation staged by the Richmond Fire Department, which responded to a man who’d become stuck against the rocks in the fast-flowing rapids. The incident was resolved shortly before 8 p.m. when firefighters got a rope bag and floatation device to the man.
Reedy Creek becomes a roaring torrent full of rapids in heavy rainstorms and is often navigated by kayakers.
Richmond MORE posted the picture above and following to Facebook.
For the folks that have not seen the bridge over Reedy Creek in Forest Hill Park is gone. The trail crew is working on a detour today. Stay tuned for updates on the repair or replacement. If you want to donate use this link.
If anyone has additonal pictures of the aftermath or the rescue please send them in to richard@rvanews.com.
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Richard Hayes
When Richard isn’t rounding up neighborhood news, he’s likely watching soccer or chasing down the latest and greatest craft beer.
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The bridge was originally put in place by volunteers and members of RVA MORE, the city’s local mountain bike organization. It has hled up against many hurricanes and flash floods over the past 7 ish years. RVA MORE is researching options for a replacement bridge which will cost a considerable amount of money. If you would like to donate, please visit http://rvamore.org/donations/ and put a note that the donation should be allocated to the Reedy Creek bridge fund. If you have any questions or would like to volunteer your services to the club, please email info@rvamore.org.
Thanks!
Thanks, Lisa. I’ve added the picture from MORE’s Facebook and an link in the main post.
IIR this is at least the second makeshift bridge built at that spot by RVA-MORE volunteers that has washed out due to high water.
Time to let experts take over the project, or to reconsider the wisdom of having a bridge there at all.