Some unusual delays will close state Route 26 for about an hour this afternoon as four-legged traffic travels to the Bryce Jordan Center.

Ten elephants from the Ringling Bros. And Barnum & Bailey Circus will make the trip from Nittany Mall, 2901 E. College Ave., to the Bryce Jordan Center (BJC). The walk is expected to begin at about 3:30 p.m.

Drivers should expect delays on E. College Ave. between Decibel and Porter roads as the animals parade down the highway, according to a press release from the State College Police Department.

The circus, which travels by train, is set to include the 10 elephants in addition to 12 tigers, 21 horses, six zebras and four goats in its seven performances of its touring show, Bellobration, at the BJC from Thursday to Sunday.

Many larger cities have rail systems under or near the arenas visited by the circus, but the Nittany Mall is the closest place to the BJC that the train can unload the animals, said Bernie Punt, marketing director with the BJC.

The State College route measures four miles between where the animals will disembark and the arena, said Kerry Ford, spokeswoman for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey.

"It's a much longer animal walk than you see any place else in the country, so this is a unique opportunity," she said.

The parade, which should take about an hour to complete, is one of the oldest forms of advertisement for the circus performances, Punt said.

"All of a sudden you see the elephants marching down the highway, so if you didn't know the circus was in town before, now you know," he said.

College Township Manager Adam Brumbaugh said the township, in association with State College police, will likely set up "rolling roadblocks" in the lane nearest to the shoulder.

"They'll only close the roadway for whatever distance the officers believe to be safe while the procession passes, and then they will open it again," he said.

Brumbaugh said the closures will be similar to those used for walking or bicycling events throughout the year.