Peregrine falcons enjoy a unique relationship with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). Through placement of nesting boxes on bridges maintained by VDOT, the endangered peregrine falcons - considered the world's fastest birds - once again fly high over Virginia's eastern seaboard. Because of the significant role it played in the recovery of the peregrine falcon in Virginia, VDOT earned the 1998 Federal Highway Administration Excellence Award in the category of Environment Protection and Enhancements.

VDOT has a role in falcon recovery largely because nesting pairs are attracted to bridge structures, which happen to be similar to their normal nesting environment on cliff faces. VDOT first placed a falcon nesting box on the Coleman Bridge in the late 1980s. Additional boxes were then placed as evidence of the falcon's presence on other bridges was found (see below). Bridge pairs now represent approximately 30 percent of the Virginia peregrine falcon population.

In recent nesting seasons, the program has celebrated as many as 13 hatchings of fledgling falcons. The successful management of these birds represents a model of federal, state and university cooperation. Along with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and the Conservation Center at the College of William and Mary, VDOT monitors the falcons on each bridge to ensure they and their habitat are doing well. VDOT has even established falcon-specific contract requirements for bridge construction and maintenance as it continues to identify other nesting sites.

Bridges with falcon nesting boxes:

• James River Bridge on Route 17
• Berkley Bridge on Interstate 264 
• West Norfolk Bridge on Route 164 over the western branch of the Elizabeth River (no nesting pairs)
• Mills Godwin Bridge on Route 17 over the Nansemond River
• I-64 High-rise Bridge (George Treakle Memorial Bridge) over the southern branch of the Elizabeth River (no nesting pairs)
• Coleman Bridge on Route 17 crossing the York River (no nesting pairs)
• Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel on Interstate 64 over and under the Chesapeake Bay (no nesting pairs)
• Benjamin Harrison Bridge on Route 156 over the James River 
• Varina-Enon Bridge on Interstate 295 over the James River (no nesting pairs)
• Norris Bridge on Route 3 over the Rappahannock River