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Miniature Catfish has Big Cost for Oklahoma Bridge Project

COMMERCE, Okla. (AP) — The spawning cycle of a rare miniature catfish is delaying the construction of a $5.2 million bridge in Ottawa County.

The Oklahoman reports that crews had worked for more than a year demolishing the Stepps Ford Bridge, a 114-year-old wooden deck, single lane bridge near Commerce. But Ottawa County Commissioner John Clarke says problems associated with the endangered tiny Madtom catfish were discovered.

Clarke says the catfish inhabits the waterway and no work can be done in the river channel during the catfish's spawning time. The spawning season is May through July.

Clarke says the project is about one-third complete. Most of the dirt work and piers and beams on the east side of the new bridge are completed.

Clarke says the delay will add $278,000 in construction costs.