I-90 Wildlife Bridges Coalition

Elementary student wins contest to post their wildlife crossings ad on local billboard.

Ad geared to upcoming local project to make I-90 safer for motorists and wildlife.

SEATTLE, WA—The I-90 Wildlife Bridges Coalition announced the winner of its statewide contest “Bridging Futures” today as Maitland Johnson of Lincoln Elementary School in Ellensburg, WA. The contest was held as part of an educational effort to teach children about wildlife crossings. The winner’s ad will be displayed on a 11 by 23 foot poster on the Delaway Road Exit off of Interstate 90 in Ellensburg, WA.


	The winning ad by Maitland Johnson of Lincoln Elementary School in Ellensburg, WA. Click to enlarge.

The I-90 Wildlife Bridges Coalition is advocating for high wildlife standards in the upcoming expansion of 15-miles of Interstate 90 from Hyak to Easton. This stretch of freeway cuts across several north-south wildlife corridors that must be protected and restored to preserve healthy wildlife populations.

State citizens and the US Congress have spent tens of millions of dollars over the last few years to acquire and protect habitat within these corridors. The freeway expansion, known as I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East, can actually improve the situation for wildlife with new structures that allow wildlife to safely travel over or under the freeway.

“When the structures are in place, these kids will remember that they were a part of the planning,” said Thorp Elementary School Art Teacher Carol Genson, who had several grades participate in the contest, “It is something for them to take ownership in and it will be remember for a long time.”

The winning ad will be displayed off of Interstate from April to June 2005, and will be complimented by a selection of other great ads from the contest posted in local businesses windows in Seattle and Ellensburg. These ads are timed to educate the public in the months surrounding the May release of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Interstate 90 Snoqualmie Pass East Project.

Click on each photo to enlarge it.

Maitland, Age: 11 WINNER! Top ad selected from Lincoln Elementary School in Ellensburg, WA and winning ad for entire contest!	Skylar, Age: 8 Top ad selected from participating classes at Thorp Elementary in Thorp, WA.
Madelein, Age: 7 Top ad selected from participating class at Steven's Elementary School in Seattle, WA.	Andrew, Age: 8 Top ad selected from participating classes at Lowell Elementary School in Seattle, WA.

To view the top ten finalists click here.