The Land Bridge and Prairie Project in Memorial Park has made significant progress and should soon mark a major milestone. It is expected that the land bridge tunnels will be completed and open for traffic in early 2022. The focus will then shift to modifying the landscape around the tunnels and establishing the planned native prairie. This land bridge over Memorial Drive will re-connect the north and south portions of the Park, greatly enhancing the park experience and accessibility for users, and providing safe pathways for wildlife. The highly trafficked Memorial Drive has been an intimidating barrier for all park users and a lethal threat to wildlife. Fortunately the value of land bridges and wildlife crossings has become increasingly recognized, and projects have been spreading across the country. The Memorial Park land bridges primarily benefit human park users, but in certain parts of the country with large mammals there is significant benefit to both wildlife and drivers by strategically siting wildlife crossings to greatly reduce lethal and costly accidents. There is even funding in the recently passed Infrastructure bill in Congress to help fund more wildlife crossing projects.

 

Links related to Memorial Park Project:

 

Drone view video of the land bridge project area:

San Antonio recently opened a major land bridge project in Phil Hardberger Park. This land bridge is similar to the project in Memorial Park as it is designed to accommodate both park users and wildlife. It also connects the two halves of the park divided by a major thoroughfare. There is even an adjacent 

Skywalk through the tree canopy. Related links below:

 

 

 

From South Texas’s simple ocelot culverts to San Antonio’s pioneering land bridge, these passageways can reduce car accidents and help animals thrive.

 

The recent Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 provides $350 million over five years for the construction of bridges, tunnels, and other infrastructure that preserves migration corridors.

 

These are typically related to identifying important wildlife migration routes to locate strategic locations. The development of the interstate highway system and increased auto traffic has greatly divided wildlife habitat and restricted the necessary travel of many species. 

 

In Nevada, a good overview video:

 

Protecting Migration Corridors in Wyoming:

 

Utah Wildlife Crossings, with interactive map: 

Crossing Structures - Land Animals - Utah Wildlife Migration Initiative 

 

For questions or feedback about this article, contact Frank Blake at frankblake@juno.com