11/18/09

We've all seen wildlife like deer after they've been hit by cars or trucks on the highway, but a different kind of overpass, will help avoid those kinds of unwanted 'close encounters.'

About 60 miles south of Jackpot, Nevada, a huge concrete arch towers over US Highway 93. Cranes hoist the pre-formed pieces into the air, and workmen carefully make sure the half arches are positioned just right before tightening the connections between them.

Highway District 3 Traffic Engineer Randy Hesterlee says, “The overpass was selected for this location because it's a major migratory route for mule deer. And there have been a good number of vehicle/animal collisions in this area.”

Hesterlee says this section of road was originally cut through a hill; he says once all of the concrete pieces are installed, workers will cover them up with dirt and plant native vegetation.

“Animals using the structure, to them it'll appear much as a regular hillside, and there won't be any real impression of a highway or a structure for them.”

Four miles of extra tall 'exclusion fence' will help direct migrating mule deer to the new overpass, enabling them to cross the highway without encountering any human traffic.

The nearly $2 million project is being paid for with federal stimulus money. When it's done, this animal overpass will be 166 feet long and more than 60 feet wide where it crosses Highway 93.