Idaho is building a $20.8m wildlife crossing to help deer migrate safely
Idaho is nearing completion of a $20.8 million wildlife underpass project on US Highway 30 to protect migrating deer and improve driver safety. The initiative, supported by a coalition of government and conservation groups, aims to reduce the high number of annual vehicle-wildlife collisions.
Why it matters
This project highlights the growing trend of infrastructure investment aimed at mitigating human-wildlife conflict and improving road safety.
The construction of a new wildlife underpass in southeast Idaho is about to be completed, after the public, nonprofit agencies, conservation groups and government agencies pushed for years to protect migrating wildlife herds and drivers, according to a report by Idaho Capital Sun.To save animal and human livesThe Rocky Point Wildlife Underpass is expected to be completed this fall along US Highway 30, south of Montpelier in Bear Lake County, public officials and conservationists announced jointly this week. The wildlife crossing features three underpasses and extensive fencing on either side of the project to guide animals such as deer to the crossing. “We were seeing just all kinds of problems there; we were losing at least 100 deer a year,” Idaho Transportation Department public information officer Justin Smith said in an interview Wednesday.
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