Protecting UDOT’s New I-80 Overpasses from Bird Damage
Client
Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT)
Location
I-80, Salt Lake County, Utah
Industry
Public Infrastructure / Transportation
Service
Custom-engineered bird exclusion netting
Scope
Two newly constructed overpasses — 175-foot-long seismic access openings sealed against all bird species
The Problem
UDOT completed two brand-new overpasses on I-80 in Salt Lake County — multi-million-dollar structures built with sophisticated seismic infrastructure. Each structure includes a long, narrow access opening — roughly 175 feet long and just 3 feet tall — that gives engineers access to the seismic components inside.
Those openings are also an open invitation to birds. Pigeons, starlings, and sparrows nest in exactly this kind of protected concrete recess, and their droppings are acidic — corroding the steel and degrading the rubber components the seismic system depends on. On a structure the public drives over every day, that’s not a cosmetic problem. It’s an asset-protection and safety problem, and UDOT needed it solved before birds ever moved in.
Our Solution
There is no off-the-shelf product for a 175-foot by 3-foot horizontal opening in a bridge abutment. We designed and fabricated a custom netting system fitted to the exact geometry of each opening.
Custom design. Netting panels were measured and built to the dimensions of the access openings, sealing the full length of each recess with no gaps at corners, edges, or penetrations.
Fine-mesh, all-species exclusion. We used small-gauge mesh that excludes every bird species — not just pigeons, but the starlings and sparrows that squeeze through wider netting and cause just as much corrosion damage in enclosed spaces.
Tensioned cable perimeter. The netting is anchored to a steel cable framework around each opening’s perimeter, keeping it drum-tight against the concrete for a long service life in freeway conditions — wind, vibration, and Utah’s freeze-thaw cycles.
Lift work over active infrastructure. Installation was completed from boom lifts, coordinated for safe work around the new structures.
The Result
Both overpasses are fully sealed against birds before a single nest was established — protecting the seismic steel and rubber components, keeping the access areas clean and safe for UDOT inspection crews, and preserving the condition of a brand-new public investment. Prevention on day one costs a fraction of remediation after years of nesting and corrosion.
Why Agencies and Contractors Call A-1
A-1 Exterminators is a State of Utah cooperative contract holder for pest and bird control, trusted with public infrastructure across Northern Utah. When the geometry is unusual, the stakes are high, and the structure is brand new, we design the exclusion system to fit the asset — not the other way around.
Protecting a bridge, parking structure, or public facility? Get a Commercial Bird Control Quote — A licensed technician answers every call.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can bird netting be custom-fitted to unusual structures?
Yes. We design and fabricate netting systems to fit the exact geometry of the structure — bridge access openings, canopies, signage, mechanical penthouses, and architectural recesses. Standard panel sizes are a starting point, not a limitation.
Why is bird exclusion important on bridges and public infrastructure?
Bird droppings are acidic and corrode steel, degrade rubber components, and create health hazards for inspection and maintenance crews. On new structures, sealing nesting areas before birds establish protects the asset for a fraction of what cleanup and corrosion repair cost later.
What size mesh keeps out all bird species?
Excluding small birds like sparrows and starlings requires fine-gauge mesh — larger pigeon netting alone won’t stop them. We match mesh size to the species pressure at each site.