Washington state builds bridge to keep wildlife off highway

SNOQUALMIE PASS — Before descending the Cascade Mountains on its final stretch to Seattle, Interstate 90 cuts through a mountain pass of old growth forests and wetlands.

For countless wildlife species, the busy highway is a border, constraining their movements and posing a fatal risk should they dare to cross it.“Everything from an elk down to a small salamander, they need to move to find food, to find mates, to find new places to live as their populations expand or just when conditions change, like a fire breaks out,” said Jen Watkins of Conservation Northwest.Soon, animals will have a safer option for crossing the road: They’ll be able to go above it.

Washington state is finishing work on its largest wildlife bridge. The 35-foot-tall, 66-foot-wide structure emerges from the forest and forms two arches above the highway, one for each direction of traffic.

For More: https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/news/washington-state-builds-bridge-to-keep-wildlife-off-highway/

Posted by admin on Dec 18 2018. Filed under Wildlife. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry