Bison Bridge over Mississippi River could be boon for the heartland

"The bison could essentially graze their way over to Iowa."

Each day, the Interstate 80 bridge over the Mississippi River connecting Illinois and Iowa carries 36,000 cars. But in the not-too-distant future, it may carry bison. Transportation officials in both states are studying plans that include possibly replacing the 55-year-old span. But rather than spend millions of taxpayer dollars to tear it down, environmentalist Chad Pregracke of Living Lands and Waters wants to raise private funds to transform the bridge into a unique national park: Bison Bridge. He wants to turn the westbound lanes into a grassy meadow while the eastbound lanes would become a safely separated pedestrian and bike path that provides close-up views of the iconic animals. The plan calls for introducing a herd of wild bison into the region that could roam the bridge and 100 acres of restored prairie on each side. "The bison could essentially graze their way over to Iowa and graze their way back to Illinois," Pregracke told ABC News. A website for the proposed project touts it as the "longest manmade wildlife crossing in the world."