Utah officials constructed a bridge to reduce wildlife-related traffic accidents on a busy highway. Their plan worked, as evidenced by a new video.
The bridge was constructed to allow wildlife animals to safely cross the interstate. It is now working flawlessly. It is described as the scene from ‘The Lion King’.
Video of a bridge built for wildlife by coyotes and mountain lions
The Division of Wildlife in Utah shared this week a video of their ‘Critter bridge’ on Facebook. It showed that many types of animals including bears, lions and deer could cross the bridge.
Two years had passed since the bridge was constructed, they wrote. The Utah Department of Transportation (Utah State University) ensures that wildlife can safely cross the Interstate without interfering in the lives of motorists.
It was constructed in 2018 for animals and was located near Salt Lake City. Construction of the bridge cost $5 million. It is made up of rocks, logs and boulders. This provides wildlife an alternative to I-80 traffic. The bridge was constructed to keep wildlife from being run over by speeding cars.
Utah wildlife bridge keeps drivers and animals safe
Utah officials don’t believe there will be any immediate success for animals as they adapt. John Gleason, a spokesperson for the Utah transportation department said that animals might need to use the overpass for years. They are already seeing results and it is an unexpected achievement to see them so quickly.
Scott Root, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources manager, stated that everyone felt great about the bridge’s use the previous year. Over the years, they have observed that many animals use the bridge as a car-free crossing.
Officials also plan to build a huge bridge for wildlife across Highway 101 in Southern California next year.