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| 98.5 KYGO posted The project covers six lanes of I-25 and creates 39,000 acres of land together. The overpass is 204 feet [64m] wide and was $15 million. https://kygo.com/look-worlds-largest-wildlife-crossing-bridge-on-i-25-south-of-denver-is-complete/ John Mittelstedt: They built it so when housing projects are built on both sides, they'll convert it to an overpass. Mary Froehle Pucci: John Mittelstedt ummmm incorrect. It’s a conservation preserve that was paid for by John Malone and Ian Griffis. Malone owns the second highest amount of land in the USA. Scott Lee Harbin: John Mittelstedt can't build on that, has a permanent easement as an open space. Janei Folz: Not just for wildlife. Now the ranchers can herd their cattle from grazing fields and not have to truck them across I 25. [There were a lot of comments about who is going to train the animals to find it and even more replies that these crossings have been proven to work in other areas. They start by choosing a natural migration path, and then they put fences along the road to funnel them to the crossing. It is probably easy finding the migration paths by noting where the roadkill is high.] |
"The structure is being built for big game animals such as elk, mule deer and pronghorn. The overpass will be strategically located to address the 3.7 mile gap from other wildlife crossings and will complete the wildlife crossing system of underpasses and fencing as a part of the I-25 South Gap project - which improved 18 miles of Interstate 25 from Castle Rock to Monument....The overpass is a critical component of the overall wildlife crossing system that is expected to reduce wildlife-vehicle crashes along this stretch of I-25 by 90%. Prior to the system being built, there was an average of one wildlife-vehicle crash a day in this corridor. While the new underpasses are used by smaller animals, the overpass addresses specific needs for large game animals such as elk. They are known to avoid tunnels and enclosed structures that can’t accommodate their antlers and restrict mobility. They prefer open structures with clear sight lines....This project is one of 19 wildlife crossings in the U.S. Department of Transportation funded nationwide." [codot]
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| FOX31 KDVR.com posted The Colorado Department of Transportation has completed construction on a wildlife overpass crossing Interstate-25 near Larkspur. (Photo: Courtesy CDOT) |
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| kdvr "The wildlife overpass, which is covered with dirt and vegetation, was completed in less than a year — both ahead of schedule and on budget, according to CDOT. A federal grant provided “the bulk” of the funding for the project." Equipment World posted Colorado DOT just opened a record-setting bridge over I-25 but it’s not for cars. Elk, bears and mountain lions now have a safe new crossing. https://ow.ly/oFjZ50XRXX9 Joseph Borghese: Wouldn't have made more sense for Vehicles on the Motorway to have the bridge to go over The Crossing - You know so no animals can't fall Onto passing vehicles and it's also easier to funnel them into a tunnel setting rather then them Cross a bridge. Christopher Jones: Joseph Borghese At least here in Northern Ontario Canada, the animal bridges were chosen as some animals will not enter a tunnel. Many prey animals are biologically wary of enclosed spaces. Dark, enclosed space prevents them from seeing predators. An elk would be one of these animals. They see the “bridge” as just a higher plain/field/etc. For bears and mountain lions, they either want to be able to see the space around them for prey/danger OR have the opportunity to hide. Both a bridge or a tunnel work for them. Regardless, appropriate fencing guilds the animals to the appropriate crossings, as determined by ecologists, biologists, engineers and the like. Either option is better than animal/vehicle accidents 🤷 |
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