Largest wildlife overpass in North America reduced wildlife collision by 91%

ChrisArchitect

As expected from the press release at open about 9 months ago. (they estimated 90% reduction https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46321557 ) The $15M price tag still seems like a lot. Happy for the critters and motorists tho

ChrisArchitect

Story instead of reddit: https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/largest-wildlife-overp...

PeterHolzwarth

"This area was getting about one deer hit a day" Relative to how many didn't get hit, what's the percentage there?

JKCalhoun

I've seen it and a few others on recent road trips. Additionally, Colorado (and other states) are putting these "animal escape ramps" along the sides of highways. From what I can gather, a fence runs along the freeway on both sides—presumably to keep the wildlife out. But, I suppose in case an animal makes it into the danger zone, every mile or so there are dirt berms built against the fence that provide a way up and over the fence. Presumably they drop off on the other side so an animal is not as likely to use these in reverse: to get into the danger zone. Additionally, there are often small partitions at each berm, jutting out from the fence. I imagine an animal following along the fence—when they arrive at the partition, they either go around it and continue, or do the right thing: climb the berm to get to the other side of the fence. (Apparently called "Jump Outs": https://www.dot.state.wy.us/home/news_info/district_news_inf... )

maartenscholl

Surprised it took so long for a car-centric country to get on board with these

morninglight

We need more of these - for pedestrians!

tobias2014

Practical Engineering has a good video about wildlife crossings (2024): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mYpQWPtfpo