Peregrine Falcon Nest Discovery Delays 422 Construction Project

VALLEY FORGE, PA — The discovery of the nest of a peregrine falcon, a threatened species protected by the state, has delayed a construction project on Route 422 into the fall.

The nest was discovered near the new bridge carrying the eastbound lanes over the Schuylkill River near Valley Forge.

The species is protected under the state's Game and Wildlife Code. There are only 44 known nesting sites of the rare bird statewide, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The bird was nearly wiped out by the catastrophic effects of DDT in the 1960s and 1970s before protections were put in place.

Work had been scheduled to conclude on May 14, but was delayed due to coronavirus shutdowns.

When work began and contractors found the nest, the Pennsylvania Game Commission reviewed the site and recommended that construction be delayed until July 31, the end of nesting season.

While deck repair and causeway removal will have to wait until then, PennDOT crews are still able to complete some parts of the project that are at least 300 feet from the nest.

The new bridge is scheduled to reopen in mid to late September, PennDOT said.

Once this project is complete, crews will move on to repaving a stretch of 422 just west of Trooper Road.