Colorado wildlife overpass linked to 91% drop in vehicle collisions with animals
A newly reported finding points to fewer wildlife-vehicle crashes at the I-25 Greenland crossing. The structure connects habitat across six lanes of traffic.
Colorado’s I-25 Greenland wildlife overpass has been linked to a 91% reduction in wildlife-vehicle collisions since its completion about 10 months ago, The Guardian reported on 19 October. The crossing spans Interstate 25 between Denver and Colorado Springs, where crashes have posed risks to drivers and animals.
The Guardian attributed the figure to a newly released report. The report’s methods, underlying collision counts and comparison period were not immediately clear. The Colorado Department of Transportation had previously projected a 90% reduction in wildlife-vehicle crashes from the wider crossing system; that earlier estimate is separate from the newly reported result.
How the I-25 Greenland crossing works
The department places the overpass near the Greenland Interchange, between Larkspur and Monument in Douglas County. Its project description says the bridge crosses six lanes at mile point 165.4 and measures 200 feet wide by 209 feet long. It was designed to connect 39,000 acres of habitat on opposite sides of the highway.
The overpass completes a system of wildlife underpasses and fencing built as part of the I-25 South Gap project, according to the department. Its project page gives a construction period from January through December 2025 and a final cost of $15 million. The Guardian reported that the project had received $22 million in federal funding and $8 million from the state, while officials said it was completed for $15 million.
Wildlife using the Colorado overpass
Colorado officials have tracked elk, bears, pronghorn and northern leopard frogs using the crossing, The Guardian reported. It also described sightings of mule deer, coyotes, rabbits and the threatened Preble’s meadow jumping mouse. The grass-covered bridge has gradually sloped entrances intended to help animals cross.
Before the overpass was built, the corridor averaged one wildlife-vehicle crash a day, according to the transport department as reported by The Guardian. The agency says larger animals such as elk can have difficulty using underpasses and tunnels because of their size and antlers. The open crossing gives them a route over traffic while the underpasses serve the broader corridor.
The department hopes to build other wildlife crossings across Colorado, The Guardian reported. The Greenland project offers a recent example of a crossing designed to reconnect habitat while reducing the risk of collisions on a busy interstate.
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Sources and context
- Colorado wildlife overpass cut vehicle-animal collisions by 91%, report findsThe Guardian
- I-25 Greenland Wildlife OverpassColorado Department of Transportation
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.