Wildlife Protection

Keeping It Simple: Easy Ways to Help Wildlife Along Roads

Saving old bridge pier helps protect mussel habitat

When you're taking apart an old bridge, you don't have to demolish all of it. After Kentucky Transportation Cabinet construction crews learned about a population of Cumberland bean pearly mussels downstream from a bridge crossing the Rockcastle River in Laurel and Rockcastle Counties, they took some simple steps to prevent demolition and construction activities from disturbing the endangered species. Throughout the project to demolish the old bridge and build a new one, they kept heavy equipment out of the water, and they left one of the original in-stream piers in place. These precautions, combined with strict erosion control measures, preserved the stream channel and prevented silt from floating downstream and over the mussel beds.

--Apr 25, 2003

Dale Noe, (502) 564-7250 or dale.noe@ky.gov

Photo shows old bridge pier left in place underneath new bridge

Photo by F. D. Noe, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet

Old bridge pier left in place protects endangered mussels

View Photo Gallery

On or Near Bridges - Kentucky