A winged delay
Bats stymie replacement of century-old Layton Bridge
The latest delay related to the replacement of the historic Layton Bridge has some people going a little batty.
About a half-mile away from the single-lane bridge that takes traffic across the Youghiogheny River sits a hibernaculum – a place animals seek winter refuge – of endangered bats.
Until state and federal officials are satisfied about the safety of the near-extinct Indiana bat and northern long-eared bat, replacement of the 125-year-old bridge in Perryopolis remains in limbo.
“It’s unfair to the people of the community, it’s unfair to the businesses in this community that a bunch of ridiculous bureaucratic red tape is ultimately putting peoples’ lives at risk,” said state Rep. Ryan Warner.
The Perryopolis Republican, along with municipal officials and a business owner, spoke of their frustrations last week – and of the cost to taxpayers to continually repair the bridge until its eventual destruction and replacement.
Over the last two years, the state Department of Transportation has spent $5.6 million on repairs to the bridge. By the time the bat issue is resolved, permits are acquired and the design of the new bridge is ready, Warner estimated the cost of repairs will hit around $11 million.
Then, it will all be torn down to put in a new bridge.
As the U.S. The Fish and Wildlife Service and state Game Commission review PennDOT’s submissions related to the bats, Warner called for an emergency declaration to sidestep regulations and start building the new bridge.
“The people here don’t deserve to wait any longer for construction of a new bridge,” he said. “All we’re doing is dragging our feet and posturing for nothing, because ultimately, that bridge is going to be built here because there’s no other place to build that bridge.”
The decision to replace the Layton Bridge was made in 2021 after a lengthy historical study was conducted. Starting in 2022, the bridge has been closed each summer for repairs.
That closure requires travelers, including first responders, to make a six-to-seven-mile detour from one side of the river to the other.
Warner contended the construction delay related to the bats is unnecessary because “none of (the bats) are remotely close to the area…where the new bridge will be built.”
Laina Aquiline, spokesperson for PennDOT District 12 refuted that.
“The bats are real, they do exist,” she said. “They are there and there is an impact on them.”
PennDOT has completed the necessary studies related to the bats, said Rachel Duda, district executive for PennDOT. The studies have been sent to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the state Game Commission. Until those entities determine PennDOT can move forward with the bridge replacement, there’s nothing they can do, Duda said.
“If the agencies concur, then we can attain environmental clearance and start final design and our right-of-way process,” Duda said in an email response to questions. “If the agencies do not concur, then we will be required to complete further biological bat studies which would likely delay environmental clearance for another year.”
Duda said all other required environmental studies have already been completed.
Aquiline said the agency recognizes the impact the intermittent closures have had on the community. She said the agency has also weighed the summertime disruption against a total closure of the bridge.
“We recognize that the periodic shutdown is an inconvenience to the area, and we choose to continue doing that in order to prevent a greater negative impact on the community,” she said. “It’s a tough spot to be in, but I would say that the department has really considered the operability of this bridge to the community, even though it is a very long process.”
According to the most recent data available from PennDOT, the average daily traffic on the bridge is around 980 vehicles.
As for when vehicles will be able to drive on a new bridge, Jeremy Hughes, PennDOT’s assistant district executive for design, said it could be as early as the end of 2028. But, given persistent delays since the decision was made to replace it in 2021, he is not confident in a set timetable.
“If the Layton Bridge has taught me anything over the last 15 years it’s not to be optimistic about things,” he said.