Valencia Elementary School reopens months after winter storms

Valencia Elementary School in Aptos reopened Wednesday roughly six months after winter storms damaged nearby Valencia Road so bad it started sinking. The closure forced parents to send their kids to several other area schools, drastically changing commute times.

“It was five minutes and then after we changed schools. It was 20 to 30 minutes each way. It was difficult,” parent Kimberly Peterson said.

Adjusting to the closure was challenging for kids too, especially since the new schools, like Aptos High School and Cabrillo College, didn’t have the same amenities as Valencia Elementary, like playgrounds for example.

“It was just cement at that other school,” said student Maggie Machado, who attended Aptos High.

Last week, Valencia Road road reopened following the completion of a new temporary bridge, but there is still plenty of work going on underneath the bridge. Once the culvert work is complete crews are still going need to lift the temporary bridge back up so they can install a long term replacement.

“We are hoping for summer because our winter break gives us a very narrow window so if for some reason it’s not done we are back to square one with only having the back route and the compromised road situation,” Valencia Elementary principal Caryn Lane said.

KION’S Paul Dudley will have more on this story tonight at 5.