Study shows each structure in Washington state saved up to $443,000 every year.
have often been proposed and constructed to preserve wildlife and help them escape predators and forest fires. In the state of Washington, there are currently 22 bridges and underpasses built solely for wildlife, with half of them found in Kittitas County, where the manmade road bisects the Cascades, a habitat for many animals.The cost of these constructions varies on the complexities involved.
Sugiarto analyzed collisions from the Washington State Department of Transportation in 13 areas where underpasses or bridges were built. By studying the data for periods between 2011 and 2020, Sugiarto could compare collisions before and after these structures were built. To compare, he also used an area of the state where no structures were built.
The study also found that there were 1-3 fewer wildlife-vehicle collisions per mile each year in a 10-mile radius around each wildlife crossing. More significant reductions in collisions were found around bridges.Deer were the most common animals involved in vehicle collisions, each costing about $9,000 on average. Roughly calculated, each structure saved $235,000 to $443,000 every year.
"From a driver's point of view, they may choose to drive safely, but still, unfortunately, there are animals that cross the road, and they end up hitting them. This shows there’s something we can do about these collisions,” said Sugiarto in the press release. "Decreasing accidents would further reduce unnecessary trauma and also save lives in addition to saving money."
The study relied on official reports required only when the damage is $1,000 or more. Insurance claims could possibly reveal more data and benefits of these structures.. Camera traps showed that deer liked to use bridge crossings while predators like bears preferred underpasses.This paper examines whether wildlife crossing structures reduce the number of wildlife–vehicle collisions.
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