A wildlife bridge that Thoreau would love
Citizens near Walden Woods in Massachusetts are considering a $3 million pedestrian bridge that would be planted with trees and shrubs to be wildlife-friendly.
By Tony Azios | Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitorfrom the November 8, 2007 edition
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Concord, Mass. - Two Massachusetts towns that surround Henry David Thoreau's beloved Walden Woods are considering whether to walk in the American philosopher's conservationist footsteps.
At a projected cost of $2 million to $3 million, a proposed 25-foot-wide by 100-foot-long overpass would span a four-lane stretch of Route 2, allowing wildlife and humans to safely traverse between the two sections of the Walden Pond State Reservation that the state highway bisects. The passage, a rarity in the United States, will be covered with earth and planted with native trees and grasses, providing a scenic footbridge for humans by day and an animal-friendly wooded corridor by night.
Proponents say that the land bridge would keep animals and tourists safe, as well as help preserve the rich history of neighboring Concord and Lincoln, Mass.
"The overpass will allow people and wildlife to utilize both sides of Walden Woods, and experience its beauty in a more safe, pedestrian setting," says Matt Burne, Land Conservation Coordinator for the Walden Woods Project (WWP), a nonprofit research and education center focused on Thoreau's writings and influence on environmentalism. Reconnecting the fragmented woods would "provide visitors with a greater opportunity for interpretation of Walden Woods' historical and ecological significance," he adds.
Hundreds of thousands of people visit the state reservation each year to hike its celebrated forest and swim in its large pond. The reservation's extensive networks of walking trails also presents a safety hazard for any visitors wanting to cross Route 2. "I am unaware of any vehicle collisions with pedestrians in that area, but frankly I am surprised. I have crossed Route 2 and it is not fun at all," says Mr. Burne.
Animals, including black bears, deer, and coyotes, would also benefit from the proposed Walden Passage. While small animals such as skunks and rabbits already traverse culverts that pass under the highway, larger animals and arboreal species, such as native tree frogs and flying squirrels, typically won't use such ground-level enclosures.
To minimize interference with animals, the overpass may have a cross-section "camouflaged" with side and overhead plantings that visitors can pass through during the day. "There will largely be a temporal separation of use," says Burne, "with humans using it during the day and animals using it at night, with little overlap."
"For the most part," he continues, "wildlife in this suburban landscape is increasingly acclimated to human presence, so I don't think that something like the lingering scent of people will dissuade them."
By recreating or protecting links between disparate habitats, wildlife corridors provide animals with access to food and mates that might otherwise be obstructed by roads, housing, or other human developments. This increased interconnectivity helps preserve biodiversity and boosts the sustainability of ecological communities by repairing fragmented "islands" of undeveloped land.
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