Main Street Bridge Open for Business in Coopersburg area

One year, two months and a potential bog turtle breeding season later, the Main Street Bridge in Upper Saucon that connects downtown Coopersburg to Route 309 in the township is open for business.

The bridge, originally slated to open in August, was delayed by Hurricane Irene and bog turtles.

The turtle joined the endangered species list in 1997 due to the disruption of its natural habitat as well as its low reproduction rate. Residents told stories of seeing scores of the tiny reptiles in decades past, but had not seen a turtle in several years.

Federal law prohibits any disruption of the bog turtle's natural habitat during mating season, which falls between March and October. A television report  stated that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers asserted that the state Department of Transportation and the contractor hired for the project didn't comply with regulations before starting it.

The report also says that PennDOT did a study of the area and found no sign of bog turtles before beginning construction.

The Express Times reports that the project cost $1,759,632.