Repair work on the Pawnee Bridge will be delayed approximately one month after construction crews discovered active migratory bird nests under the bridge. The nests are federally protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
City of Wichita staff, working in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, will review the nests again in two weeks to determine if nesting activities are complete, although a longer duration is possible.
In the meantime, Pawnee will temporarily re-open to traffic as early as Thursday. When it is safe to continue construction, message boards and media outlets will be used to notify motorists in advance.
The Pawnee Bridge was built in 1961. The $3 million project to repair the existing bridge has a target completion date of summer 2017.
