THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE
LYNCHBURG DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES.
AS OF 12:45 PM, THE EVACUATION ORDER HAS BEEN LIFTED. RESIDENTS
STILL AT THE EVACUATION CENTER AND OTHER LOCATIONS MAY RETURN
HOME.
WILEY WILSON CONTINUES TO HAVE ROTATING SHIFTS MONITORING THE DAM
AND SPILLWAY. THE SLUICE WAS OPENED AT 9 AM IN ORDER TO DEWATER
THE LAKE. DURING FUTURE RAIN EVENTS, WATER MAY ACCUMULATION,
HOWEVER, THE SLUICE WILL REMAIN OPEN AND WATER WILL CONTINUE TO
RUN THROUGH THE EMERGENCY SPILLWAY. BLACKWATER CREEK WILL FORM A
CHANNEL THROUGH THE LAKEBED AREA. THE PUBLIC IS STRONGLY ADVISED
TO NOT WALK ON THE LAKE BED DUE TO UNSTABLE SEDIMENT. IN ADDITION,
THE PUBLIC IS ASKED TO PLEASE HEED ALL EMERGENCY TAPE AND BARRIERS
AND NOT TO ACCESS THE STREAM AREA NEAR THE DAM OR CLIMB ON ROCK
WALLS LOCATED NEAR THE DAM.
LAKESIDE DRIVE WILL REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. THE CITY
WILL WORK TO STABILIZE THE DAM AND THE ROADWAY, WHICH MAY TAKE 6
TO 8 WEEKS, DEPENDING ON THE LENGTH OF THE PERMITTING PROCESS. THE
SHORT-TERM PLAN IS TO STABILIZE LAKESIDE DRIVE IN ORDER TO OPEN
BOTH LANES OF TRAFFIC. FUTURE DECISIONS REGARDING THE STATUS OF
THE DAM AND BRIDGE WILL BE DETERMINED IN THE COMING WEEKS.
ADDITIONALLY, CREEKSIDE TRAIL IS CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE DUE
TO TRAIL BRIDGE FAILURES.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE CITY OF LYNCHBURG AT:
434-944-3075.