‘It’s working!’: Utah officials thrilled to see animals using highway wildlife overpass
Back in 2018, the Utah Department of Transportation opened a $5 million overpass across six lanes of the highway as part of an effort to reduce crashes between cars and animals.
The nearly 350-foot-long bridge, which opened in December 2018, is the first of its kind in the state. The bridge’s construction came after 46 deer, 14 moose, and four elk were killed on that stretch of highway in 2016 and 2017 alone.
Last week, the agency released a video of the bridge in use — shows a variety of animals using the bridge like deer, porcupines, squirrels and mountain lions.
“It’s working!” officials posted on Facebook. “Thanks to the Utah Department of Transportation and Utah State University for monitoring the Parley’s Canyon wildlife overpass this year. As you can see, the 2nd year of this overpass has been successful at helping wildlife safely migrate over busy Interstate 80 and helping motorists be much safer as well. Please keep off of this overpass. Thanks!
