Officials from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Department of Transportation took steps Monday to prevent the Ironton-Russell Bridge from becoming like a scene from an Alfred Hitchcock movie.

At 9 a.m. Monday morning, one lane of traffic on the bridge was closed while ODNR officials installed a nesting box for two peregrine falcons that have become annual visitors to Lawrence County from harassing pedestrians.

Chris Smith, wildlife area supervisor for the ODNR's Division of Wildlife's Cooper Hollow area, said the nesting box will be the only one installed at this time.

As Smith and two co-workers installed the box, one of the falcons was perched on a cross beam.

Last June, the bridge's sidewalk was temporarily closed because the falcons were attacking ODOT workers and pedestrians because they were protecting their nests. Typically, peregrine falcons lay eggs in March which hatch in April. While their young learn to fly, the will stay in the area until mid-summer.

"While a crew was working on the bridge last March, one of them hit one of the workers in the head and dropped his hat in the river," said Cecil Townsend, county manager for ODOT.

In past years, Smith said, the falcons have made their nests near the bridge's sidewalk. The nesting box is on the opposite side, and this could reduce conflict between pedestrians and the falcons.

If the falcons use the boxes, pedestrians and motorists may be safer. Townsend said pedestrians trying to escape the wrath of the falcons may run into traffic.

As one of the fastest birds in the world, peregrine falcons can dive at speeds of nearly 200 miles per hour. Each bird has a three to three-and-a-half foot wing span. They typically weigh less than two pounds, but grow to be 15 to 21 inches in height.

The falcons do not necessarily attack people when making contact with them, Smith said. However, they are aggressive in defending their nests and will try to chase people away from them. If an individual encounters a peregrine falcon on the bridge, he or she is advised to duck behind a beam and leave the area as soon as possible.