Breaching on College Lake Dam begins in Lynchburg, wetlands to be restored
LYNCHBURG, Va. (WFXR) — The City of Lynchburg warns travelers to use caution near Lakeside Drive as construction goes underway at the College Lake Dam.
On Monday, May 20, crews with W.C. English Construction started the breaching operation on the College Lake Dam. The 24/7 operation will take a minimum of five days to complete.
The breach will make College Lake Dam no longer an impoundment. Erin Hawkins, the Water Quality Manager for the City of Lynchburg, says breaching it is the first step in decommissioning the dam and reestablishing the open flow channel.
“We are not anticipating any road closures or delays in this area. We strongly encourage motorists traveling in the Lakeside Drive area, in or around and near the [Lynchburg] University (LU) entrance, to be very aware of the increased truck traffic,” said Hawkins. “This is going to be a 24/7 operation so work is not going to stop until this breaching operation is complete.”
Buckle Up! ‘Click it or Ticket’ campaign kicks off in Virginia for Memorial Day weekend
During this time, travelers can expect dump truck traffic near the entrance before crossing the bridge. Residents in this area can anticipate noise from construction vehicles and lights shining to illuminate the site.
Once College Lake Dam is removed, the lake bed will be transformed into a wetlands ecosystem.
To see a live feed of the crew’s progress, click here.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
