ESTAIRE - Training an animal to look both ways before crossing the road might be near impossible. The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) will take a novel approach to the problem as part of the highway-widening project further north.
The ministry hopes to help wildlife cross Highway 400 safely with the help of a 30-metre-wide animal crossing set to be open this summer.
The crossing is located 1 kilometre north of the Highway 637 interchange.
According to an emailed response from Kristin Franks of the MTO, the location was chosen to optimize the bridge design using existing rock cuts. The structure is built and landscaping will be finished this summer. Franks explains the deck of the structure should resemble the surrounding area as closely as possible, meaning lots of soil, vegetative plants, brush piles and rocks.
According to MTO, the overall cost of the bridge totals $3 million, and will accommodate all wildlife species in the area.
While other locations are currently in the planning stages for animal crossings, Franks doesn’t believe Parry Sound will see one of the wildlife bridges over expanded highway here.
“Wildlife crossings are sited in areas where a higher than average rate of wildlife-vehicle collisions are anticipated,” explained Franks.
“In certain sections of Highway 69 it is predicted that as many as one in two collisions are related to wildlife.”
According to the OPP, of the total of 655 collisions reported in West Parry Sound during 2010, 179 involved wild animals.
“I’d say that’s high,” said Const. Charles Ostrom of the OPP, who also commented that many of those accidents are not highway related.
“Accidents involving animals happen right here in town,” explained Ostrom. “We had a moose running though town one weekend, and that’s dangerous.”
Ostrom would like to remind drivers in the community that an animal crossing is only one of many ways to reduce vehicle collisions with animals.
Ostrom comments that one of the highest contributing factors is the speed of motorists.
“You can’t drive too fast for what your headlights allow you to see on the roadways.”
The animal crossing on Highway 69 is currently the only structure of it’s kind east of the Rockies.