Colorado overpass cuts wildlife collisions by 91%
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In Colorado, officials observed a 91% reduction in wildlife-vehicle collisions on Interstate 25 after opening North America’s largest wildlife overpass near Larkspur in December.
The 200-foot wide and 209-foot long structure, covering 41,800 square feet, provides a safe crossing for animals like bears, elk, and moose. Colorado Department of Transportation officials initially predicted a 90% reduction in collisions, and the actual results after ten months exceeded that estimate by one percent.
The overpass includes five underpass tunnels for smaller animals and thousands of yards of fencing to guide creatures toward the safe crossing. Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson Bridget O’Rourke noted that the structure benefits a wide range of species, including pronghorn antelope, northern leopard frogs, and rabbits.
For pronghorn, naturally migratory animals, the overpass offers a crucial connection across a highway that previously disrupted their movements for decades, officials recently captured video of a pronghorn using the bridge, the first such recording in 30 years. Beyond protecting animals, the overpass also improved safety for drivers along the Larkspur-Monument corridor. Accidents decreased from an average of one per day, and traffic delays fell by 9% as a result of fewer collisions.
Following this success, Colorado is now scouting six additional locations for similar wildlife crossings, including one designed specifically for Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep.
