Backroads Bill explores the history of wildlife crossings
Most travellers on Highway 69 have noticed the brightly-decorated overpass near the Killarney turnoff. The structure features paintings of foxes, wolves and deer.
Animal road crossings, or ‘ecoducts’ allow safe and easy travel across highways for widlife
CBC News ·
The overpass on Highway 69 that displays paintings of foxes, elk and wolves isn't just for decoration, says Backroads Bill Steer. (Supplied by Bill Steer)
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Most travellers on Highway 69 have noticed the brightly decorated overpass near the Killarney turnoff. The structure features paintings of foxes, wolves and deer.
The Highway 69 ecoduct near the Killarney turnoff has become a tourist attraction, as the overpass is decorated with images of wolves, elk and deer. (Backroads Bill )
The crossing is referred to as an 'ecoduct' and is meant to direct wildlife across the highway in a safe manner.
Ecoducts provide a safe hughway crossing for wildlife, such as this deer. (Backroads Bill)
Wildlife collisions are a serious safety concern on northern highways, and Ontario's Ministry of Transportation has been looking at ecoducts as a method of preventing more accidents.
A wolf uses the Highway 69 overpass in winter.
Backroads Bill has given the CBC some background on the history and significance of these structures, and provided exclusive pictures of wildlife using them.
The Wasi Wildlife Underpass was completed in 2013, as part of the Highway 11 reconstruction in that area. (Backroads Bill )
The Ministry of Transportation photographed this black bear trying to make sense of the gates that direct wildlife across the ecoduct. (Backroads Bill )
with files from Markus Schwabe. Edited/packaged by Casey Stranges
