Before Tempe Town Lake existed, the Salt River could go from completely dry to flooding through Tempe. That’s what happened in January 1993, when heavy winter storms sent floodwater rushing under the Mill Avenue Bridge while crews were building the second bridge nearby. The water damaged the construction site and forced work to stop while crews assessed the damage. The original 1931 Mill Avenue Bridge stayed open, and the new bridge eventually opened in 1994. A few years later, Tempe Town Lake opened and changed this area forever. Did you know the Salt River used to flood through Tempe like this? Via Tempe History Museum Follow downinnadesert for more Arizona history and hidden local stories. Send us your stories to be featured on the page. #TempeAZ #ArizonaHistory #TempeTownLake #Arizona #DownInnaDesert