{"id":2914,"date":"2025-07-09T20:52:13","date_gmt":"2025-07-10T03:52:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/animalpages.com\/animals\/?p=2914"},"modified":"2025-07-09T21:00:30","modified_gmt":"2025-07-10T04:00:30","slug":"bridging-the-gap-wildlife-overpasses-and-connectivity-plans-keep-animals-and-drivers-safe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/animalpages.com\/animals\/bridging-the-gap-wildlife-overpasses-and-connectivity-plans-keep-animals-and-drivers-safe\/","title":{"rendered":"Bridging the Gap: Wildlife Overpasses and Connectivity Plans Keep Animals and Drivers Safe"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-small-font-size wp-elements-c8068f91b982c78dc3eeb345a8fddd04\"><em>July 9, 2025<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Two U.S. states are ramping up efforts to reduce wildlife\u2013vehicle collisions and restore critical habitat connectivity. From Colorado\u2019s new overpass on I\u201125 to Washington\u2019s statewide habitat plan, the message is clear: protecting animals means safer roads for everyone.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Colorado Overpass on I\u201125<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"344\" data-attachment-id=\"2915\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/animalpages.com\/animals\/bridging-the-gap-wildlife-overpasses-and-connectivity-plans-keep-animals-and-drivers-safe\/clearer-image-of-wildlife-overpass\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/animalpages.com\/animals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Clearer-image-of-wildlife-overpass.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"768,344\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Clearer-image-of-wildlife-overpass\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;Conceptual image of Greenland Wildlife Overpass showing a herd of Elk crossing over I-25&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Conceptual image of Greenland Wildlife Overpass showing a herd of Elk crossing over I-25&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/animalpages.com\/animals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Clearer-image-of-wildlife-overpass-300x134.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/animalpages.com\/animals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Clearer-image-of-wildlife-overpass.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/animalpages.com\/animals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Clearer-image-of-wildlife-overpass.jpg\" alt=\"Conceptual image of Greenland Wildlife Overpass showing a herd of Elk crossing over I-25\" class=\"wp-image-2915\" style=\"width:841px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/animalpages.com\/animals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Clearer-image-of-wildlife-overpass.jpg 768w, https:\/\/animalpages.com\/animals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Clearer-image-of-wildlife-overpass-300x134.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><sup>Conceptual image of Greenland Wildlife Overpass showing a herd of Elk crossing over I-25<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A $26 million wildlife overpass is being built near Monument on Interstate\u202f25, positioned between Denver and Colorado Springs\u2014a stretch notorious for wildlife crossings and collisions (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcrightnow.com\/news\/washington-plans-more-wildlife-overpasses-to-boost-driver-safety\/article_a3356bc7-7a29-5291-a918-da3bbe54bf78.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">NBC Right Now<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyfly.com\/2025\/07\/03\/washington-state-launches-strategy-to-reduce-wildlife-vehicle-crashes-and-restore-migration-paths\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dailyfly<\/a>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The project includes fencing, underpasses, and the bridge itself, funded through state and federal sources like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law .<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Modeled on successful crossings in Banff (Canada) and Utah\u2019s Parleys Canyon, such projects can reduce animal\u2013vehicle collisions by over 80% . Construction is scheduled for completion by the end of 2025.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Washington\u2019s Habitat Connectivity Action Plan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"676\" data-attachment-id=\"2918\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/animalpages.com\/animals\/bridging-the-gap-wildlife-overpasses-and-connectivity-plans-keep-animals-and-drivers-safe\/630fb63b8c1f9-image\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/animalpages.com\/animals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/630fb63b8c1f9.image_.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1212,800\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"630fb63b8c1f9.image\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/animalpages.com\/animals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/630fb63b8c1f9.image_-300x198.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/animalpages.com\/animals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/630fb63b8c1f9.image_-1024x676.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/animalpages.com\/animals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/630fb63b8c1f9.image_-1024x676.jpg\" alt=\"Wildlife Overpass on I-90 east of Snoqualmie Pass, Washington State\" class=\"wp-image-2918\" srcset=\"https:\/\/animalpages.com\/animals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/630fb63b8c1f9.image_-1024x676.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/animalpages.com\/animals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/630fb63b8c1f9.image_-300x198.jpg 300w, https:\/\/animalpages.com\/animals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/630fb63b8c1f9.image_-768x507.jpg 768w, https:\/\/animalpages.com\/animals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/630fb63b8c1f9.image_.jpg 1212w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><sub><sup><em>Wildlife Overpass on I-90 east of Snoqualmie Pass, Washington State<\/em><\/sup><\/sub><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>On July\u202f2, the Washington Departments of Fish &amp; Wildlife (WDFW) and Transportation (WSDOT) unveiled the Washington Habitat Connectivity Action Plan (WAHCAP), a statewide roadmap to help wildlife move safely across roads and through fragmented landscapes (<a href=\"https:\/\/wdfw.wa.gov\/newsroom\/news-release\/new-state-plan-aims-reconnect-washington-wildlife-make-roads-safer?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">WDFW<\/a>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The plan identifies 13 large-scale \u201cconnected landscapes\u201d and highlights 38 priority highway segments\u2014such as U.S.\u202f2 near Cashmere and I\u201190 near Snoqualmie Pass\u2014where crossings, culvert retrofits, and fences could make a significant impact (<a href=\"https:\/\/washingtonstatestandard.com\/2025\/07\/09\/preventing-crashes-protecting-wildlife-is-goal-of-new-wa-plan\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Washington State Standard<\/a>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Between 2019 and 2023 on just one U.S.\u202f2 corridor, officials removed 32 deer carcasses and documented 19 collisions alongside five human injuries (<a href=\"https:\/\/washingtonstatestandard.com\/2025\/07\/09\/preventing-crashes-protecting-wildlife-is-goal-of-new-wa-plan\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Washington State Standard<\/a>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Building on earlier successes\u2014like the I\u201190 wildlife overpasses east of Snoqualmie which have recorded tens of thousands of safe wildlife crossings\u2014the initiative offers interactive mapping tools and planning data for local governments, tribes, and conservation groups (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.khq.com\/news\/washington-plans-more-wildlife-overpasses-to-boost-driver-safety\/article_b7b26d33-b86c-4d93-816e-1a09796af26b.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">KHQ News<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why It Matters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Benefit<\/th><th>Description<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Safety<\/strong><\/td><td>Each year, wildlife\u2013vehicle collisions cause human injuries, animal deaths, and millions in damages.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Ecological<\/strong><\/td><td>Roads fragment habitats, and these crossings help reconnect migration routes for deer, elk, bears, cougars, and other species.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Replication model<\/strong><\/td><td>Successful projects in Canada, Utah, and now Washington serve as proven templates for more infrastructure investments nationwide.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Bottom Line:<\/strong> Colorado\u2019s new I\u201125 overpass and Washington\u2019s comprehensive habitat connectivity plan both aim to strike a dual win: reducing wildlife\u2013vehicle collisions and restoring ecological pathways. With data-driven design, cross-agency collaboration, and funding from infrastructure bills, both states are leading the way. And with construction set through 2028, communities and ecosystems alike have a brighter, safer road ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-9ac00cf961d1ea846fe5a532228b76c6\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-2571651847880215\"\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\n<!-- banner ad -->\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\n     style=\"display:block\"\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-2571651847880215\"\n     data-ad-slot=\"7178535257\"\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Disclaimer:<\/strong>&nbsp;This blog post is for edutainment purposes only and may not be entirely accurate.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>July 9, 2025 Two U.S. states are ramping up efforts to reduce wildlife\u2013vehicle collisions and restore critical habitat connectivity. From Colorado\u2019s new overpass on I\u201125 to Washington\u2019s statewide habitat plan,&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2916,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[48,79,42,60,31],"class_list":["post-2914","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-animal-news","tag-american-animals","tag-bears","tag-conservation","tag-deer","tag-wild-animals"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/animalpages.com\/animals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/deer-crossing-road.webp","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalpages.com\/animals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2914","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalpages.com\/animals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalpages.com\/animals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalpages.com\/animals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalpages.com\/animals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2914"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/animalpages.com\/animals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2914\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2920,"href":"https:\/\/animalpages.com\/animals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2914\/revisions\/2920"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalpages.com\/animals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2916"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalpages.com\/animals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2914"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalpages.com\/animals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2914"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalpages.com\/animals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2914"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}