Road ecology blog: water eroding away wildlife path at multifunctional underpass, Montana, USA.

This is a multifunctional underpass for a stream and wildlife, US Hwy 93 South, Bass Creek south, south of Florence, Montana, USA. Water has eroded the soil and rocks under a concrete walkway designed for wildlife. The design allowed for a relatively short length of the bridge, but it also resulted in steep slopes and a narrow strip for wildlife that was made into a "sidewalk". However, the stream dynamics are such that this design is not without its problems (see image). To reduce maintenance it is probably better to have a slightly longer bridge, more gradual slopes and a wider zone for both the stream and wildlife that is more robust and that does not require concrete or other unnatural elements.

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Multifunctional underpass for a stream and wildlife, US Hwy 93 South, Bass Creek south, south of Florence, Montana, USAMultifunctional underpass for a stream and wildlife, US Hwy 93 South, Bass Creek south, south of Florence, Montana, USA