The High Road

Birds wheel over rising flood waters on the Cedar River between the First Avenue bridge (camera vantage point) and the Five-In-One bridge and dam (background) in Cedar Rapids, Iowa around 6:45 AM on Wednesday, June 11, 2008. The First, Second and Third Avenue bridges over May's Island all would be closed after June 12, leaving the high-and-dry Five-In-One bridge--carrying traffic for Interstate 380--as the only accessible bridge downtown throughout the devastating flood. The Quaker Oats plant is seen in the background in this view looking north.