Rare spider halts road construction

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SAN ANTONIO, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- The Texas Department of Transportation said a San Antonio construction project has been put on hold due to the discovery of a rare spider.

The department said the $15 million underpass project at State Highway 151 and Loop 1604 was halted after an environmental consultant discovered the spider, a Braken Bat Cave Meshweaver, living in a 6-foot-deep cave in the median where crews have been working, KSAT-TV, San Antonio, reported Tuesday.

Officials said the endangered spider, which has no eyes, had not been documented in more than three decades prior to the discovery a week and a half ago.

Texas DOT said the project is on indefinite hold while officials work to re-evaluate the construction plans.