KINGSLAND, Texas — On Oct. 16, 2018, floodwaters rushed through Kingsland, Texas, causing the FM 2900 bridge to collapse and wash away.
At that point in time, the Llano River crested at 39.9 feet – the highest height in more than 80 years. That's more than 10 feet above the flood stage and only a foot and a half below the record height of 41.5 feet set in 1935.
The bridge, which was built in 1969 according to the Texas Department of Transportation, was made of concrete and steel pilings and built to withstand a 50-year flood level.
PHOTOS: Llano River floods 2900 bridge in Kingsland
The flooding set off a series of mass evacuations for those who lived along the water. According to Llano authorities, at least one person died in the flood event on Oct. 16.
The loss of the bridge took a toll on residents. What used to be a five or 10-minute drive became 45 minutes just one way.
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"So what was a two-minute drive to going to the grocery store, to go to the pharmacy, to get gas, to do anything like that now became a 40- to 50-minute drive," Llano County Judge Ron Cunningham told KVUE.
Some business owners near the bridge told KVUE Wednesday, losing the bridge changed the town.
“Folks that lived on this side had to go 30 minutes out of their way to get to the hospital," said Pat Muller, the owner of Valentine Lakeside Resort in Kingsland. "It changed lives, it absolutely changed lives. Let me tell you what it didn’t change: it didn’t change the courage, the community, the lack of victim and the partnership we all pulled together to make this community bigger and better than it was before."
Shayne Riley, the parts manager for Boat Town in Kingsland, said the bridge collapse had a big impact on Kingsland, but in the end made the town closer.
"You know, Kingsland came together," Riley said.
Less than a month after the bridge was washed away, construction to rebuild a new bridge began. The FM 2900 bridge finally reopened on May 24, merging the city back together.
The new $17.3 million bridge includes 12-foot travel lanes, six-foot shoulders and a six-foot sidewalk. It was constructed as a “perch” bridge, which means the center of the bridge is higher than the ends. At its highest point, the bridge is about five feet higher than the previous bridge.