Falcons responsible for railroad bridge delay in Bald Eagle Valley Trail construction

WAYNE/PINE CREEK TOWNSHIPS, PA – Construction work was to resume Wednesday for the multi-million-dollar bridge upgrade on a section of the Bald Eagle Valley Bike Trail linking Wayne and Pine Creek Townships.

As explained by Clinton County Planning Director Katie de Silva, peregrine falcons caused a six-week delay in the project over the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. The falcons chose to nest on one of the bridge piers. The intruders were discovered back on May 16 when workers from Glenn O. Hawbaker Inc. lifted up some railroad ties with their heavy equipment; they spotted a nest with a mother and three chicks and work was immediately ceased and the Pennsylvania Game Commission notified, the falcons protected by law while nesting due to their highly protected status.

The bridge work was delayed as project participants waited while the young falcons grew and took flight. That occurred as of earlier this week and the Game Commission gave the go-ahead to resume the project on Tuesday.

de Silva said the falcon issue delayed the bridge work for the six weeks but will be completed later this summer with a ribbon-cutting for the link scheduled for some time in mid-August.

A planning office member said, “We’re thinking this Bald Eagle Valley Trail will be all about raptors.”

The next land link for the bike trail, to the east of the bridge, is to be bid in August.