Rare spider halts road construction

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.