Million Dollar Wildlife Overpass
Banff National Park of Canada
To reduce the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions, a 2.4 m high ungulate-proof fence was installed along both sides of the twinned Trans Canada highway. To minimize the disruption of wildlife movements, wildlife underpasses were incorporated into the highway design. These two 50-m wide wildlife overpasses were the first of this magnitude to be built in North America. They are 50 metres wide, cost over a million dollars each, and are solely for use by the park’s wildlife.
Overpasses, a 2.4-metre tall highway fence and 22 underpasses have reduced wildlife road kill and collisions by more than 80 per cent. The overpasses are designed so animals cannot see the highway when crossing. Elk, moose, wolves, deer and grizzly bear tend to use the overpasses. Cougars and black bears like the underground passages.
Uploaded on September 13, 2012