Secretary Brian Searles and Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Scott Johnstone embarked on a two-hour boat voyage near the bridge and turtle habitat with Dr. Patrick Galois, a turtle biologist from the St. Lawrence Natural History Museum. Galois has been contracted by VTrans to conduct a study that will determine how much of the causeway extending into the bay ban be removed without harming the turtles which are considered an endangered species in the state.
Causeways are the earthen and rock roadbeds that lead vehicles up toward the main bridge structure.
Earlier this month, VTrans files an application to the U.S. Army Corps of engineers for construction of the bridge that includes removal of the causeways. However, the officials who gather near the bridge Thursday said no decision on exact causeway removal will be made until Galois' report is done in April. His interim report should be completed no later than September, according to Danny Landry, VTrans project manager for the Missisquoi Bay Bridge. Galois has studied turtles since 1995. The plan, said Landry, is to decide what course of action is needed regarding the turtles whole continuing without further delay through the infancy stages of the bridge project.