Plans to transform ageing Mississippi River bridge into world’s longest wildlife crossing
A 1.1km bridge between Iowa and Illinois over the USA’s most famous river could be transformed into the world’s longest wildlife crossing under radical plans to prevent it from demolition.
The 55-year-old Interstate-80 bridge currently serves 42,000 motorists every day. However it is due to be torn down and replaced due to its deteriorating condition.
However, conservationist Chad Pregracke has tabled a radical proposal that would save the bridge from demolition and would allow bison to freely cross the Mississippi River.
The proposal – aptly dubbed Bison Bridge – involves constructing a pedestrian path and bike path on one side of the bridge and on the other an enclosed bison paddock.