For 109 years, four concrete lions greeted drivers on the Seventh Street Bridge in Modesto. They endured surface crumbling, vandalism and other affronts but were still beloved by many locals.
Two of the lions are being restored for display in a plaza next to the new Tuolumne River span, opening by early 2028. Stanislaus County Public Works made that promise to residents who had hoped to spare the bridge from demolition.
The Modesto Bee got a look Monday at the repair work so far. It is taking place at a site in the county that we agreed not to disclose, due to chisel-wielding curiosity seekers…