Overpass for wild animals I-80: taking care of our little brothers (12 photos + 1 video)
With the development of civilization and human dominance, the abodes of wild nature begin to suffer. After all, their territory is gradually occupied by strange and dangerous objects that the tailed, ungulates and birds cannot cope with. 
Utah has taken care to balance the intersection of the interests of humanity and animals so that everyone can benefit. 
Utah's largest wildlife crossing allows native wildlife to safely cross six-lane Highway 80 in Parleys Canyon. 
In December 2018, the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) opened the largest wildlife overpass in the state. The 100-by-15-meter bridge rises over all six lanes of Interstate 80 (I-80) in Summit County, Utah, to allow native animals, including elk, deer, and raccoons, to travel safely. 
The I-80 wildlife passage was part of a $22 million project funded by UDOT that also included construction of a new lane dedicated to oversized vehicles. A $5 million grant was specifically earmarked for the construction of a new animal crossing. 
UDOT contacted the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources to map wildlife migration in the area and subsequently determine the ideal location for the bridge. The starting point of the project was sad events: in 2016 and 2017, on this section of the highway, 46 deer and 14 moose, cougars and raccoons, not to mention small animals, died under the wheels of cars. 
Animal advocacy group Save People Save Wildlife, founded in 2015 and dedicated to raising awareness and teaching residents to respect wildlife and giving them the tools they need to coexist with the natural world around them, approached UDOT in 2016 to build the overpass. As the population of local wildlife has decreased markedly due to a large number of fatal accidents. 
Yes, experts predicted that the animals would avoid the bridge at first, but gradually they would learn to trust it. Now, thanks to cameras, squirrels, raccoons, bobcats, cougars, moose and even bears can be seen calmly migrating along the overpass from one state to another. The bridge not only ensures their safety, but also protects drivers from dangerous collisions. And quite a few fines too (accidents with deer cost about 25 thousand dollars, and accidents with moose - almost 45 thousand dollars). 
The bridge is lined with logs and boulders to blend into the surrounding landscape and attract animals to cross.
The I-80 overpass is the second such structure in the state. The first wildlife bridge was built in southern Utah in the 1970s, and it is still in use. 
The presence of the animal bridge minimized the number of accidents due to collisions with wild animals, contributed to the preservation of species diversity, which was declining due to landscape fragmentation, and saved many lives - not only animals, but also people. 
