It spans more than three times the length of the I-15 bridges, stretching over six lanes of traffic and a median. Built in 1975, UDOT estimates almost 600 mule deer use the overpasses to safely cross each year.īut the I-80 stretch will be much longer. Two overpasses crossing I-15 were among the earliest wildlife bridges in North America. The Parleys Summit wildlife bridge will not be the first highway crossing for animals in the state. It will cross I-80 near Parleys Summit, about 20 miles east of Salt Lake City. The planned 345-foot bridge will be 19 feet high and 45 feet wide. Last month, the Utah Department of Transportation proposed a $5 million wildlife bridge to cross one of the interstate’s deadliest and most costly “hot spots.” Inevitably, wildlife and humans collide - literally. Interstate 80 runs east-to-west through Utah, cutting through mountains, canyons, creeks, and forests. It also cost 778 moose, elk, and deer their lives. Aside from it connects or reconnects habitats (to combat habitat fragmentation), it also helps prevent an unnecessary vehicle-animal collision-a win-win situation for everyone.Utah’s I-80 received $5 million from the USDOT to plan a wildlife crossing over the highway.Ī 12-mile stretch of Utah highway cost Utahns more than $7.7 million in accidents alone in the last five years. Wildlife crossing initiatives are a significant step in the right direction for habitat conservation. green bridges (another variation of the overpass).underpass or tunnels (the opposite of overpass).Infrastructures like these have repeatedly proven that that safety should prioritize no species over the other.Īside from the overpass, wildlife crossings can take the forms of Wildlife crossing projects are structures made with the sole purpose of keeping animals and motorists safe by creating safety passage, and boundaries, for both. (Photo : Photo by Ivana Cajina on Unsplash) The repeated announcement was intended for the people who, despite all the warnings, cameras, and other safety measures, still trespass on the overpass.Īlso Read: Events That Surprisingly Went Awesome for Nature! Wildlife Crossing To maintain the goal of keeping everyone safe, the Division of Wildlife and Resources kept on emphasizing the overpass is exclusively for animals only. And we expected it to take several years before the animals got used to using it, so this is great." At least initially, it appears the investment in safety is paying off. According to the Utah Department of Transportation Spokesperson John Gleason, "From what we can tell, the number of accidents there is down dramatically. It's not just animals that benefitted from the overpass so were the drivers. The location was also strategically chosen as the place was where many animals were recorded to have kept on crossing over the years. A right measurement that keeps the traffic unbothered while giving the animals comfortable passage. The state's largest wildlife overpass is covered and protected by three and a half miles of fencing to guide the animals on which way to take to get to the other side. As you can see, the 2nd year of this overpass has been successful at helping wildlife safely migrate over busy Interstate 80 and helping motorists be much safer as well. In the post, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources said that "It's working! Thanks to the Utah Department of Transportation and Utah State University for monitoring the Parley's Canyon wildlife overpass this year. The collaborative efforts of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Utah Department of Transportation, and the Utah State University made the success of the overpass possible. It was, however, the largest among them all. The Parleys Canyon Wildlife Overpass (the one in the video), which was completed in 2018, was among the many of its kind, all built to serve the same purpose. Animals are using the overpass all the time throughout the year. Many local animals like bears, deer, moose, and many more critters local to the area featured in the video. The Utah government made it to keep both animals and motorists safe and avoid injuries from accidental collisions. The wildlife division placed the structure over a busy interstate. On their Facebook page, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources shared a video of an overpass created exclusively for animals.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |