An Idaho bridge sat unused for 56 years after mining cut off its road; in 2025, it reopened for wildlife, where nearly 75 animals had been struck within two miles in a decade

In 1969, a bridge over Interstate 90 and the South Fork Coeur d'Alene River near Osburn, Idaho, was built. For more than half a century, the bridge sat there in the sun, with not much use. The bridge was meant to serve a growing town. But the mining companies bought the land on the far side, blocked expansion and even demolished half the structure. And the bridge ended up being a slab of concrete that carried no vehicles and served no purpose.Carl Wilson, a resident and truck driver who spent more time on Idaho highways than anywhere else, thought about this structure. Driving past roadkill day after day, Wilson began to wonder if that dead-end bridge might have a second life.He had watched local elk and deer herds, and other animals, take their chances with semi-trucks and passenger vehicles. The stretch of I-90 near Osburn ranked second-highest in wildlife collision rates on the interstate between Coeur d'Alene and the Montana border. In the past decade alone, nearly 75 animals were struck within two miles of that single bridge. So Wilson asked himself: what if this bridge could save the animals he watched die trying to cross the freeway? He was sure the old overpass could help. He just needed to convince everyone else. And he did!Abandoned overpass gets a second lifeThe man wasn't the one building roads or taking up conservation projects. He was a truck driver who witnessed what the animals crossing the freeway went through. So he began working the phones, attending meetings, talking to neighbours and state officials about retrofitting the abandoned bridge into a wildlife crossing. Converting an existing structure into something useful sounded good in theory. However, making it possible was harder. But he kept pushing anyway. He gathered community leaders, brought in conservationists and reached out to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Slowly, the idea started moving. The Department of Fish and Game teamed up with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and several local conservation groups, and decided to make it work. The state officials began working with Osburn residents to secure grant funding and install infrastructure so that the animals could safely cross the interstate via the abandoned bridge. But Wilson didn't live to see it completed. He died in December 2022 at 80 years old, more than two years before the project finished.“He came to me in, like, 2008, when it was just a twinkle in his eye. It just lit a fire under him. It's good to see his dream, that he worked on so hard for all those years, come to fruition,” Kip McGilvery, who has served as the mayor of Osburn for 12 years, told The Spokesman-Review.The Idaho Transportation Department provided crucial support by granting the necessary permits and also helping connect the group with funding resources. Some key staff members in District 1, including former Assistant District Engineer Marvin Fenn and Program Manager Robert Beachler, were instrumental in helping guide the effort to fruition, ITD said in a release.“This project really showcases how creative thinking and collaboration can make use of existing infrastructure in new ways. It was great to see local initiative and partnerships come together to improve safety for both wildlife and drivers,” Beachler said.The new bridge was officially launched in the summer of 2025. Trail cameras mounted on the bridge and nearby underpass recorded what state officials and conservationists had hoped for: deer using the crossing regularly. The footage showed animals taking the bridge route instead of risking the interstate. The fencing did its job, funnel-fencing animals towards the safer crossing. The underpass likewise showed traffic.The bridge, however, does not have a long future. Its life is limited. However, ITD said it's happy to support the community in putting it to good use for now. As the bridge is not used for transportation purposes and is owned by ITD, it is scheduled for removal in 2032, as it ages. “Even temporary or short-term solutions can have meaningful benefits. This project reflects the kind of local collaboration and problem-solving we appreciate being a part of,” District Engineer Damon Allen said. For now, the animals can safely cross the bridge without risking their lives.Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.