Amazing Animal Bridges And Crossings That Save Wildlife From Vehicle-Animal Collisions

By Mark Galvan

Updated on November 12, 2021

Conservationists and architects are creating animal crossings over busy highways for our wildlife friends. These wildlife crossings reduce fatalities for both wild animals and humans alike.

Road systems are necessities for public transport, and street networks are convenient for humans.

However, roads and highways have proved to do more harm than good to animals. Every year, despite countless road signs, thousands of wild animals die from vehicle collisions in the US alone.

Ever since road networks were constructed in the wild, animals have been exposed to potential dangers when moving from one place to another.

Highways often cut off wildlife from resources they rely on for survival, leaving them with little choice other than traverse busy roads.

For such reasons, wildlife crossings are built to let these wild animals cross man-made roads safely.

How Do Animal Bridges Work?

Wildlife crossings are in the form of bridges, overpasses, underpass tunnels, and ecoducts, and they provide safe passageways for animals to cross over public roads.

With these safe routes, animals won't have to access busy roads or highways anymore. They can safely cross over or under these structures to continue their path.

According to Rob Ament, an expert in the field of ecology, animal crossings and fencing can reduce collisions from 95 percent to 85 percent, and guide animals under or over highways.

Just as bridges keep humans out of danger on highways, these animal crossings are nearly similar.

Who's Building Animal Bridges?

The first wildlife crossing was constructed in the 1950s. France built several animal bridges to protect both animals and humans from vehicle collisions.

When it comes to animal bridges, Europe definitely leads the way. Apart from France, the Netherlands also has more than 600 overpasses for deer, boars, and badgers.

In fact, the Netherlands takes pride in having the longest wildlife overpass in the world. Natuurbrug Zanderij Crailoo stretches 800 meters in length. It overpasses the massive N525 highway and nearby rail lines.

Canada and the US also started paying more attention to building animal bridges. For the last 25 years, both countries have built several bridges for animals.

For example, the Banff National Park in Alberta features a network of bridges and underpasses for wildlife animals.

Also, an underpass beneath Highway 160 between Durango and Bayfield in Colorado was completed in 2016. Remote photos show that the passageway is used by deer, coyotes, raccoons, and other small animals every day.

Joe Lewandowski, a spokesperson for Colorado Parks and Wildlife noted:

"Roads all over the state-run right through these migration paths, when they go back and forth, a lot of animals are hit on the highway every year. There are many needs in transportation across the state, and this is just one of them."

Animal bridges are steps in the right direction for creating harmony between modernization and animal life.

Animal habitats will no doubt continue to become more fragmented in the future, but with these bridges in place, road fatalities between animal-vehicle collisions will continue to decrease.