Solutions For Road Kills
Each winter a stretch of highway near my home becomes a virtual graveyard littered by deer forced to cross a busy road for access to the to the one river that remains unfrozen. I’m Susan Allen and when Open Range returns I'll share how landscape architects and engineers have been challenged to design roadways that are more wildlife friendly. When visiting the Banff area I observed elk moving back and forth via viaducts that went under heavily traveled highways and also noted high fencing erected to keep big horn sheep from colliding with cars. All good ideas we should be incorporating more of out west considering the Wall Street Journal reported that wildlife –automobile collisions are rising. 182 motorists died last year and Montana State University’s transportation department stated that these and non fatal collision cost $8 billion dollars in repair and medical bills. In Europe wildlife bridges over roadways are common and effective. To bring this idea to fruition in the states The ARC, International Wildlife Crossing Infrastructure Design Competition recently challenged engineers, landscape architects and ecologist with the goal of designing overpasses that would be inviting to wildlife for a $40,000 prize. It’s not easy, these bridges must block out noise, sight and road vibrations and appeal to a variety of species. Some like Deer who would rather move through treed zones for privacy while open meadows appeal to bison and elk. Given the current economic status of western states, its a given that the entries will remain a pipe dream, but contest sponsor hope some elements will be incorporated into new road design.
