Circa 1969, my soon to be wife had a top floor apartment on
South Logan Street next to Interstate 25 (Valley Highway) in Denver. Valley
Highway passed under Logan.
We had just arrived back at her apartment when a mega
thunderstorm hit. Just the short distance from her carport to the rear door
left us sopping wet. The hail and rain continued for over an hour.
Evidently the drains under Logan were plugged and the
roadway became a lake. Several vehicles were trapped. At one point a cab over
semi’s chrome exhaust pipes was all that was above water.
A Volkswagen was floating around. Finally, after the rain
stopped, the Fire Department arrived. They had a small inflatable raft and
paddled out to the VW. As soon as they attached a rope to the rear bumper and
started to pull it to the dry roadway, the VW sank.
We had a perfect ringside seat from her apartment to watch
the circus.
If memory serves, it wasn’t until the next morning the
highway was opened.
9 comments:
Chinese fire drill - maritime edition
LL
Not DFD's most shinning moment.
No car will float forever, well, maybe an Amphi-car...
Word to the wise: stay out of high rushing torrents after angry deluges. Just sayin'.
Fredd
Some never learn. Just watch YouTube.
I've seen them floating, but only newer ones. The old ones were so rusted out the water got into them as it rose, and they stayed put on the road.....
Sigh... And I'm betting there was NO hazard sign to be found... But I'll bet there is now!
DrJim
In 1969 chances are it was fairly new.
OldNFO
Not the last time I was down there. I think it was a drainage malfunction. The water was standing for hours.
Even after millions of dollars invested in the infrastructure of the Valley Highway, those underpasses still have a tendency to flood with heavy rains. I am not sure if drainage will ever be equal to "gully washers". Those of us that have lived here for awhile, know not to be in that area during a heavy downpour.
Sisty
All the runoff goes into the Platte or Cherry Creek.
You are right, some of us know better. Denver drivers are marginal at best, and even stupider in rain.
They learn to drive in snow after a wreck or two.
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