NC Builds $10M Bridge Where Hikers and Bears Cross Together

Imagine a bridge where hikers and black bears can cross the same road at the same time without ever meeting face to face.

That's exactly what North Carolina is building in the Appalachian Mountains. The state's first wildlife land bridge is taking shape along NC-143 at Stecoah Gap, where it crosses the famous Appalachian Trail.

The $10.2 million structure uses a smart mirrored design. One side funnels wildlife like black bears and rattlesnakes safely across the road. The other side is fenced off exclusively for human hikers.

A central dirt mound running down the 206-foot concrete arch keeps the two groups completely separated. From the outside, it looks like natural landscape blending seamlessly into the mountains.

Construction started in October 2022, with completion expected by late 2026. Phase 1, including the concrete foundation, finished in February 2025.

"We've never done something like this before," said Adam Dockery, Division 14 resident engineer at the North Carolina Department of Transportation. The project required close collaboration between NCDOT and the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission.

For hikers like Jacob Popperwill, the bridge solves a common problem. "There's always people walking the Appalachian Trail and having encounters with bears or other wildlife," he told local news. "This just leaves them a route to be able to traverse together."

The Ripple Effect

This single bridge is just the beginning. North Carolina's $10.2 million investment will fund additional wildlife overpasses and underpasses throughout the Great Smoky Mountains region.

Wildlife corridors like this one reduce vehicle collisions with animals by up to 90%, saving lives and money. They also reconnect fragmented habitats, giving animals safe passage to food, mates, and territory.

The land bridge is part of a larger $681 million "Corridor K" highway upgrade, showing how infrastructure projects can serve both human progress and environmental protection. Construction company Neel-Schaffer says the design "blends naturally into the surrounding landscape" while "preserving the area's natural character."

When completed, this pioneering project could become a model for other states looking to protect wildlife and people on busy mountain roads.