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Environment

$15 Million Texas Highway Project on Hold Because of…Endangered Spider

Sep. 11, 2012 9:22am Liz Klimas

Discovery of Endangered Braken Bat Cave Meshweaver Halts $15 Million San Antonio Road Project

Braken Bat Cave Meshweaver (Photo: Jean Krejca, Zara Environmental / SA via San Antonio Express-News)

Construction of a $15.1 million highway underpass that has been going on in the San Antonio area since April has been halted — indefinitely — due to a rare species of spider that hasn’t been seen in more than 30 years.

KSAT reports the Texas Department of Transportation constructing the underpass to ease area congestion at state highway 151 and loop 1604. The project has been paused for nearly two weeks though as Braken Bat Cave Meshweaver was discovered near the roadwork after being exposed by rainfall.

The project is on hold as the DOT re-evaluates the situation since the uncovering of the eyeless arachnid. WOAI reports a department spokesperson saying the delay is not costing the project more money, it’s just on hold. It reports Josh Donat with the state’s DOT saying it is working with biologists on a plan to modify the project so it can move forward. He said to WOAI there is a likelihood more spiders are in the ground underneath the site.

Watch the WOAI report:

The Houston Chronicle has more on the history of the spider in the area and biologists’ reactions to its discovery:

To find a Braken Bat Cave meshweaver was a discovery of another kind altogether, akin to “stumbling on a new Galapagos Island in terms of the biological significance of the region,” said biologist Jean Krejca, president of Zara Environmental, a consultant for the Texas Department of Transportation.

Well-known hydro-geologist George Veni first identified the spider in 1980 in northwest Bexar County, about 5 miles from the construction site. The spider’s genus species classification reflects its namesake: Cicurina venii.

But the cave where Veni found it was later filled, and now is covered by a residential development. The Braken Bat Cave meshweaver spider hadn’t been seen since.

The Chronicle reports the the dime-size spider as non-venomous to humans. It became considered an endangered species in 2000. The San Antonio Express-News has more photos of biologists at the discovery site here.

The road project was expected to be completed by next summer, but it is unclear how that goal will be affected at this point.

KSAT reports local resident Rick Gomez questioning what will happen with the project due to the new discovery.

“Are they going to reroute the project?” Gomez said to KSAT. “Are they going to start a new project because the ramp would help.”

(H/T: Huffington Post)

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Comments (123)

steelpanther
Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:09am
How did they know this thing was there? It’s a spider, how many people working there would think to call in the EPA or whatever find out what it is to halt the project? How many would know it was anything more then a spider? I don’t get how things like this happen, because normal people go, oh it’s a spider, *STOMP*

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- mattmo79
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:32am
  Reminds me of the cave beetle issue in Austin in the 90′s. The enviro wackos claimed they were in and around a construction site. Project was halted, however it was impossible to prove they were there because you would destroy their habitat if you went looking for them so they couldn’t look for them!
  
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- johnjamison
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 11:18am
  Catch a couple of the spiders and breed them in a lab study them to your hearts content and let people live their live already.
  
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- Gold Coin & Economic News
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 11:22am
  I think a couple cans of Raid would take care of the problem.
  
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- skiz
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 12:22pm
  Come on, this stuff has to stop! It is a spider. If it is an endangered spider, I guess it did not make the cut on “survival of the fittest”, sorry.
  
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- panz
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 2:37pm
  I would imagine the EPA has a person or more on every job, constantly on the lookout for such things or testing for habitats. Adds to the cost of the project but what do they care?
  
  Report this comment
- colt1860
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 4:09pm
  Alright,once I pass by Texas in my travels, I’ll remember to stomp on them. Once they’re gone, construction can begin. Thank me later.
  
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- turkey13
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 6:49pm
  Look for the same spider about 50 miles away. Five years ago the tree huggers got a bunch of mining companys stopped because of a rare Kangaroo mouse in Utah. Fifty miles away they found a community of them that had a population of over a 1,000.
  
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- OklahomaBound
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 8:27pm
  I was thinking the same thing STEELPANTHER. If I were in construction and worked that site and saw a spider my first reaction wouldn’t be to wonder whether it was an endangered species and wonder whether I should call someone to find out, I’d just see a spider and continue working. I guess the question is; Who is responsible for telling the eco-nuts this thing was there so the so-called “progressives” could once again put the breaks on progress?
  
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- Hanner
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:03pm
  Whoever called in the enviro-loons had better keep a low profie and look for another job. Those men on that job need a paycheck and I can promise you that they are pretty disgusted and mad right about now. This is why endangered animals come up missing or dead. These tree huggers will shut down a job indefinitely over these bugs and animals. Here in Florida, these enviro-wackos will lock down your whole land if they find a gopher tortoise, grasshopper sparrow, spotted owl…..the list goes on and on. They have more authority over your property than you do. The environmentalists can pretty much do whatever they want with your land. Protected species!!!! wink,wink.
  
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CorpsmanHM3
Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:08am
Step on the stupid spider and bring on those cement trucks….

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thegodfather
Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:07am
Liberals would rather protect a form of algae, than see anything built in this country

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Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:06am
This is the kind of thing those Ted Kaszinski types would collect rare species for just so they can drop one and cause havoc. I call BS. If they want to save it, take it and clone it, breed it, take them to pelosi’s house. If they can’t find another it’s on the way out anyway.

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thegodfather
Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:06am
Just step on the f##cking thing and move on

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Wango
Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:03am
I hear there’s a rare Bible buried on the job site. Think we should stop it?

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- progressiveslayer
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:13am
  A rare bible? LMAO keep em comin there Einstein.
  
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- TexasCommonSense
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:26am
  You put it in a museum and move on with your work. Don’t be a dumbass.
  
  Report this comment
- NealPatrick
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 1:03pm
  Oh bless your little heart… thanks for playing today.
  
  Report this comment
- MCTYLERMORE
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 1:09pm
  What about a rare Koran
  
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- TexasHunter
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 1:13pm
  I am really surprised you are able to type. WANGO
  
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watashbuddyfriend
Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:00am
Just like the ducks, spiders, and other species which cost taxpayers $billions, these species are smarter than the idiots who are allowed to call the shots. These species have the natural instinct to relocate, and need no help from mankind.

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- starman70
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:18am
  You can damn well bet that there are many more caves around that area where those spiders live.
  
  This just shows how the LIBs worry more about spiers, crabs, owls and lots of other things, all of which are intended to thwart progress.
  
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Ch
Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:59am
Get a 100 tractor convoy and drive over the habitat.

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- Ghandi was a Republican
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:09am
  True- because property owners have been doing this for decades. They see a rare species, they kill it before they lose everything. This is the unintended consequence of these radicals who care nothing in reality.
  
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BlackCrow
Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:46am
I have to drive that stretch of road from time to time. IT IS A MESS!!!

The hole that spider was found in is well marked and easy to get to. There is an HEB down the street and they sell Raid. Stab the can with a knife and drop it in the hole. When the biologists come back no more spider and the work can go on.

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BloodSweatandTears
Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:45am
Why not use credit default swaps or Co2 energy swaps? When earth Google finds a new species and they do a lot -thanks to their high powered telescopes, they could SWAP it for a so called endangered one…whats good for the goose is good for the gander, no?

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TerryJ70
Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:44am
Who is allowing this kind of crap! How stupid are people to allow this. Even in Texas! Unbelievable.

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- SCREW-WINDOWS
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:58am
  Do spiders pay taxes ?
  
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- thegreatcarnac
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:56am
  Feds
  
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biohazard23
Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:43am
It’s a SPIDER, for cryin’ out loud. One that hasn’t been seen in 30 YEARS! If no one missed it for all that time, nobody’s gonna miss the wretched thing now. Build the damned overpass and move on.

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- copatriots
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:45am
  Preach it, Sister! :-)
  
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- Docrow
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:47am
  amen!
  
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- biohazard23
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:56am
  Oops, should have said underpass, but my point remains the same. Bury that thing of nightmares and git ‘r done!
  
  Man, liberal idiots freak out to protect a blind creepy crawly thing but they despise attempts to protect unborn babies. Amazing.
  
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copatriots
Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:39am
Liberal Austin

G@y Mayor in Houston

Insane property taxes in San Antonio

Inundated with illegals

And now this…..

We are losing Texas, Folks.

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- biohazard23
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:44am
  They’re a bit looney in Dallas, too.
  
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- copatriots
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:48am
  Yeah, I know……but I’m about to move there so I’ll straighten them up. ; )
  
  I’m gonna have to change my name to TXPATRIOTS. :-)
  
  Report this comment
- biohazard23
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:57am
  You go, girl!
  
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- BassChick
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:12am
  I’m in Austin…talk about looney!
  
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- momrules
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:15am
  Welcome to Texas COPATRIOTS. I’m happy to know we will have another patriot here.
  We Texans keep trying to remain free but the EPA ( all powerful ) and the looney left ( all crazy ) have made inroads here too.
  
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- biohazard23
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:18am
  @BassChick, my condolences. :)
  
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doomytram
Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:37am
Somebody call the EPA a 4 toed sloth was spotted in Harry Reid’s office.
The only way we can reign in this leviathan behemoth.that is the federal gov’t is to trick it by covering the District of Corruption with Cicurina venii spider’s Duck billed platypus’s and red eyed wood peckers. Tar and Feather Reid dot comime.

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Exidor
Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:37am
I’m in Texas, and this surprises me a bit.

Wait…..no it doesn’t. Government Shop.

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kickagrandma
Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:36am
Do you know how much I HATE spiders???
Multiply that by 1,000 and you’ll know how much I HATE the epa.

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watersRpeople
Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:33am
It’s because your controllers aren’t stupid. You all love your nation, but they, they love the earth, which means they have one up on you. No, you should love the Father over everything else, then you love the earth because the earth gives you a life, and then you love your nation, and loving the Father first is what secures a nation.

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- Zipit
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:56am
  A little something in your coffee this morning there Waters?
  
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- M13
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:59am
  But I hate your father because he is the one that spawned your ignorant stupidity.
  
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- Stelex
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:25am
  I thought Brad Pitt shot you in Seven
  
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- Cry_Havoc
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 3:51pm
  Hehe. You are really are a first class space cadet Waters.
  
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huey6367
Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:32am
When you start construction, the spider will feel the vibrations and move away. Animals do that sort of thing.

The EPA needs to be abolished.

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Zipit
Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:30am
I had better hit the WEB, and find out more about this elusive creature!!! Could it be,could it be? Is this the only place on the globe where this spider exists???

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Detroit paperboy
Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:29am
Shoulda stepped on it and kept working………….l

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BeingThere
Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:29am
Blast all the environMENTALists into space with all the nuclear waste!!!!!!!!!

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JACKTHETOAD
Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:29am
Ride them there bats in! YEEE-HAWWW!!!

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TexasCommonSense
Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:28am
More than 90% of all species that have ever existed on Earth are now extinct.

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- BassChick
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:15am
  And I’m suffering every day because of it. It takes all I have just to get up in the morning, knowing that this spider might have to move from it’s natural haven to a place a few yards away…poor little thing. My life is over.
  
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- TexasCommonSense
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:24am
  BassChick, I’m with ya. Extinction is a natural process.
  
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- SCREW-WINDOWS
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 11:11am
  Looks like the spider needs to follow the mantra of the Marine Corps “Improvise, Adapt, Overcome”.
  
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progressiveslayer
Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:27am
Yet another example of government gone wild,our government is too big and controlling and needs to be downsized ASAP. The EPA is a tool of the communists to destroy our economy,no drilling for oil,no new construction of any kind and on and on.

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- U.N.hater
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:33am
  We had a chance to vote some one in who said they would get rid of the EPA. But everyone said he was a kook. You people had your chance so quit complain’ing live with it.
  
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- Anonymous T. Irrelevant
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:48am
  Quick, someone call the wahhhmbulance!
  
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- progressiveslayer
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:11am
  UN HATER So who’s you people there hater? You obviously know nothing about me so wtf?
  
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- U.N.hater
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:17am
  Why do you need a wahhhmbulance? Obama and Romney our both admited progressives. I even remember Glenn said so himself when he was endorse’ing oh ricky boy. You people support a progressive who said he is not getting rid of the EPA. Truth does hurt sometimes but i don’t think you need a wahhhmbulance.
  
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- U.N.hater
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:34am
  @progressiveslayer: i’ve been come’ing to the blaze everyday since it started and have watched Glenn for 6 years now. I agree with most of your posts. If Ron Paul would have said that there is a caliphate and he would deffend israel That’s who i would support but he doesn’t. I’m not going to vote for anyone who is a admited progressive. I love my country to da mn much to keep do’ing the same thing over and over again. I would stand with you to fight for this country to my last drop of blood but i’m not going to vote unamerican anymore.
  
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g123695
Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:27am
Okay, so I’d like to know who/how the spider was discovered. What construction worker went, “Stop! Stop! I think I just spotted a Cicurina venii!!!” “Quick, Bufford! Take a picture of it and call the state DOT!!”

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- Docrow
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:50am
  might have been more like this….
  
  “¡Alto! ¡Alto! Creo que sólo vio un venii Cicurina! “” Rápido, Bufford! Tome una foto de ella y llamar al Departamento de Transporte del Estado! “
  
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- copatriots
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:59am
  Muy bien, Doc!
  
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- texastommy
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 9:59am
  So true DOCROW, so true.
  
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- Vader234
  Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:34pm
  @ DOCROW
  
  exactamente DOCROW, tiene usted razón.
  
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