In March, GNN reported that North America’s largest wildlife overpass had opened in December over Interstate 25 near Larkspur, in Colorado.
Now, 10 months on from its opening, data has demonstrated that the 6-lane lifeline for bears, elk, moose, and other animals is working, with 91% fewer collisions between wildlife and vehicles.
Measuring 200 feet wide and 209 feet long, the overpass covers 41,800 square feet (3,900 sq. meters), making it the single largest bridge structure for wildlife in North America—and one of the largest in the world.
It includes not only the bridge deck, but 5 wildlife underpass tunnels for smaller or more timid animals to cross as well. Thousands of yards of fencing funnel creatures to the bridge, completing the infrastructure.
Estimates from Colorado DoT officials expected collisions to be reduced by 90%—and indeed the figures after 10 months have been 1% better.
“We are thrilled,” said Bridget O’Rourke, a spokesperson for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, to the Colorado Sun. “Wildlife overpasses and underpasses and funneling animals to have a safe path across the roads, it’s been statistically proven that it’s successful.”
It’s not just the bear or elk that are crossing safely, but smaller animals like pronghorn antelope, the northern leopard frogs, and rabbits as well—a “huge plus,” said O’Rourke.
Pronghorn are by nature migratory, and I-25 has proved an impediment to their biological compasses for decades. A pronghorn videotaped crossing the wildlife overpass is the first recorded doing so in 30 years.
For the hominin species driving below in their cars, the overpass has represented fewer lethal, traumatic, or costly accidents—which used to average 1 per day along the Larkspur-Monument corridor. Traffic delays have fallen by 9% as a result of fewer instances of highway safety personnel closing lanes around shattered cars covered in blood and fur.
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The success seems to be spurring a wildlife overpass construction boom, with an additional 6 locations now being scouted for such installations, including the first wildlife overpass specifically designed for Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep.
The Sun reported the following plans: the westbound lanes of I-70 at East Vail Pass between Vail and Copper Mountain, I-25 just north of the New Mexico state border, on US 160 east of Cortez in southwestern Colorado, over Colorado 40 west of Craig, and near US 287 south of the Wyoming border.
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