Road Ecology Center

Protected wildlife species that utilize the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) bridges and structures may be susceptible to impacts from routine maintenance and inspection activities. In response to community-driven concerns related to the conservation of protected terrestrial species and due to the lack of existing guidance for bridge related activities, WSDOT expanded their Highway Maintenance Environmental Compliance Guidance for Protected Terrestrial Species to include guidance for bridges. Two documents were developed, one document specific to bridge inspection activities, and one specific to maintenance activities. The guidance is performance outcome based, and requires that inspection and maintenance activities avoid adverse impacts to nesting protected birds and other wildlife. The guidance has been implemented and is successfully being used by bridge inspection and maintenance staff.