As yet the only wildlife overpass in Yoho National Park, this overpass was opened in June of 2018. 60 metres wide, it is the largest of the overpasses in the Canadian Rockies. It is expected that, among others, bears, cougars, wolverine and a nearby herd of mountain goats will begin using the overpass shortly. Just west of the Alberta-BC border, the overpass is about 13.6 kilometres east of the town of Field, BC.
Further below are excerpts from a Global News article published shortly before the opening of the overpass.
One of the great biological successes in recent times, the wildlife crossings in Banff National Park have proven effective in not only reducing, and in some cases even eliminating, animal mortality along the Trans Canada Highway as it passes through the park, but helping to maintain genetic health. While everyone from scientists to citizens was skeptical of their efficacy when built, two decades of study have shown that the crossings have been used by over 200,000 animals, ranging from grizzlies, elk and moose to toads, beaver and garter snakes.
The program has proven so successful that biologists from around the world now come to Banff to study the wildlife protection system implemented here, taking the knowledge back to their homelands to be used in creating their own systems.
Parks Canada prepares to open largest wildlife overpass of its kind in Yoho National Park
Parks Canada is nearing completion of a $6.6-million animal crossing in Yoho National Park.
By Sarah Offin | June 7, 2018
Landscapers are putting the final touches on a brand new wildlife crossing structure that will be the biggest of its kind in the Rocky Mountains west of Calgary.
Parks Canada started building wildlife overpasses in Banff and Yoho national parks decades ago. Combined with wildlife fencing along the TransCanada Highway, the crossings have been a huge success both for reducing animal-vehicle collisions as well as with animal migration.
“We need the genetics of the animals on the one side and the animals on the other side to mix so you get a natural flow of populations,” said Trevor Kinley, an environmental assessment scientist with Parks Canada.
Bears, cougars, wolverine and a nearby herd of mountain goats are expected to start using the structure in the coming weeks.
The new wildlife crossing near Lake O’Hara, just west of the B.C. border, is now one of seven in the Banff and Yoho national parks.
Combined with 42 animal underpasses the TransCanada west of Banff now hosts the longest animal crossing system in the world.
The newest crossing is 60 metres wide and has berms that are at least a metre high on either side of the structure to minimize both noise and the view of the highway.
From Global News