Wildlife Protection

Keeping It Simple: Easy Ways to Help Wildlife Along Roads

Longer bridge spans, more space for wildlife passage

Since many animals use floodplains and water bodies to move from one wildlife corridor to the next, it's logical - and easy - to design bridge ends to extend farther beyond the floodplain or water body than is required. Longer bridge spans also cost far less than a separate wildlife crossing under an existing roadway. Over the last few decades the Florida Department of Transportation has designed and built extended bridges on I-75 (Alligator Alley) in Collier County and in other locations throughout the state. The efforts are paying off. Florida panthers and other wildlife are using the bridges to safely cross roads and to move back and forth between wildlife corridors.

--Apr 25, 2003

Vicki Sharpe, (850) 414-5326 or vicki.sharpe@dot.state.fl.us

Bridge on pilings extended over floodplain to allow wildlife passage under highway

Photo by David Zeigler, Florida Department of Transportation

Bridge extensions like these on I-75 allow wildlife to safely cross under the highway

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On or Near Bridges - Florida