So I read in the Seattle Times today that the State DOT is moving forward with a project approved by the 2005 legislature to add 24 animal crossings over I-90. These under and over passes would allow the animals to move freely on either side of the freeway and "would allow animals to better go about their daily lives, searching for food, mates, and extending their home range to patterns more normal than allowed today, with the highway slicing through their world."
So I don't want to be a scrooge but if I recall right I-90 was built in the 1970's and it would seem like most of the animals alive today are not old enough to remember a time when there was not a freeway "slicing through their world." Also after 40 years I would expect that there would be some adaptation for these species as they are alive and doing well.
So the solution to the "problem is to build these under and over passes. Let's disregard the problem of teaching and educating the animals to take a giant bridge over a 6 lane noisy freeway to find food and let's forget that animals are probably not going to read the inevitable signage directing them where to cross and let's forget the concern of the smaller animals being stuck on the over pass with a bear.
My real concern is the michievious woodchuck. For anyone who has seen the recent Gieco commercial, wood chucks do in fact chuck wood. With the abundant supply of wood along the I-90 coridor I am more than a little concerned that they will see the overpass as an opportunity to create even more havoc than tossing some poor guys firewood into a lake.
So my word of advice, take State Route 2, stop in Leavenworth, enjoy a bratwurst, and keep your drive woodchuck free.
The link to the story is http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2013844862_wildlife05m.html
I am guessing from their lovely little site that there are no woodchucks in Leavenworth. One more reason to avoid I-90. :)
ReplyDeleteLOL - what else can you say about this insane level of tree hugging?
ReplyDeleteHere's what I can say about it, Bart. Who in Government still has money for insane projects like this? And how do we get this extra money out of their hands? Or perhaps Wash DOT is thinking of tolling I-90 to pay for animal bridges?
ReplyDeleteWelcome back everyone! I trust everyone had a great Christmas and New Years.
Jill A
I see roadkill all along 203. How do we get animal bridges from Fall City to Monroe? And how many do we need? It doesn't seem realistic to tell a deer he has to walk a mile to cross the road. People will barely walk a block to cross in a cross walk. Isn't there a joke about why did the deer cross the road?
ReplyDeleteYes, there is a joke, it goes something like this:
ReplyDeleteWhy did the deer cross the road? to pick up a buck on the other side...
Thomas that was just plain bad - you should smack yourself :D Better yet, I'll have Shelley come do that for me :P
ReplyDeleteHi Jill!
Yes - I have to agree... What an absolutely stupid use of taxpayer dollars.
Bart,
ReplyDeleteThere is a long line of those who want to slap me. Take your spot in line.
But I would rather have you, I am a little scared of Shelley.
Welcome Accidental Bavarian! I love Leavenworth and try to get up there at least once every other month. You have a great site and it will allow me to plan my trips better. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteShe is rather intimidating isn't she?
ReplyDeleteFor the rest of you - Shelley is a cousin of mine from Fort Worth, Texas and who is serving a mission for the LDS church and is assigned to the Duvall area currently. She's been studying both logic and philosophy in college prior to this which makes for some very interesting twists in discussions with her :D
Thomas,
ReplyDeleteThe level of insanity required to come up with the idea for a deer bridge over a freeway is astounding. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated case. Let's do a post on some of our favorite insane government programs - both in the idea phase and actually implemented. I'll start: subsidizing public transit. I laugh every time I see 1 or 2 people on a large metro bus coming or going to Duvall. Equally funny is me paying for our ferry system. I've never been on a ferry and don't even know anyone who has.
Doug
Great idea.
ReplyDeleteOne of my pet peeves is government run / subsidized welfare systems. The government agencies are too distant to see how the system is being abused by people who won't work. A friend of mine was just denied welfare for her and her child because she owns a car, while the lady who was in line before her walked out with government provided iphones, food stamps, and vouchers for clothing and got behind the wheel of a very new and fancy SUV. When I see things like this it makes my blood boil because the people who really need help cannot get it while others are manipulating the system to get all that they can from it.
ReplyDeleteI would prefer to see all government subsidy of welfare stop immediately, and ask people to make charitable donations to local organizations instead. It's much harder to tell your neighbors that you need a new iphone for each of your kids than it is to get the government to buy one for you.