In order to reduce traffic accidents involving wildlife on a busy overpass, Utah officials built a bridge. A new video indicates that their plan was successful.
A bridge, which was built to help wildlife animals get through to the interstate safely, is working perfectly. Some people describe it as a scene of ‘The Lion King’.
Video shows bridge made for wildlife in use by bears, coyotes, and mountain lions
This week, the Division of Wildlife in Utah, shared a video of its ‘Critter Bridge’ on their Facebook page, showing that different types of animals, including moose, bear, lions, deer, squirrels, and coyotes, could get across the bridge.
See it: Deer, bears and other wildlife use Utah’s animal-only bridge https://t.co/duB7WcgbSX
Who else agrees that there needs to be more animal bypass highways built?
This is so great to see 😍 pic.twitter.com/hGGr6Ny0SV— Paoli Vetcare • Main Line Vet & Animal Hospital (@paolivetcare) November 29, 2020
They wrote that two years have passed since this bridge was built. Wildlife can cross the Interstate safely without interfering with motorists thanks to the Utah Department of Transportation and the Utah State University.
The bridge, which was built for animals in 2018, was located over I-80 near Salt Lake City. The bridge’s construction cost $5 million. It is filled with rocks, logs, boulders, and other natural resources, offering wildlife a safe alternative to traffic on I-80. Keeping wildlife animals from speeding vehicles was the main reason why the bridge was built.
‘It’s working!’ Video of Utah bridge built just for wildlife shows animals like bears, deer safely crossing interstate https://t.co/Q7cQ9GWPC0 | via @NewsNationNow pic.twitter.com/eLD3TT1NcQ
— Austin Kellerman (@AustinKellerman) November 25, 2020
Wildlife bridge in Utah keeps animals and drivers safe
Typically, animals need time to adjust, Utah officials do not believe that there would be such success soon. John Gleason, a spokesman of the Utah transportation department, said that it might take years for animals to start using the overpass. They are seeing results, and it is an unexpected success to notice results so early.
Moose, porcupines, deer, and even bears used the bridge to cross the highway last week! https://t.co/jwnAPHof4G
— Enviro. Media Assoc. (@green4EMA) November 28, 2020
The previous year, Scott Root, the manager of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, said that everybody felt great that the bridge was used. They have noticed that all sorts of animals are taking advantage of the car-free bridge over the past few years.
Next year, Officials are also planning to build an enormous bridge for wildlife over highway 101 in Southern California.
