Colorado Has North America’s Largest Wildlife Overpass – How Big?

Anyone who's traveled the interstates and highways of Colorado knows that the danger of wildlife jumping in the way of traffic is all too common. Hundreds upon hundreds of vehicle-wildlife accidents happen every year in Colorado; this new wildlife overpass, in Douglas County, is expected to reduce those accidents in its area by 90%

I have a dear friend who, along with her husband, were in an accident involving a deer jumping in front of the motorcycle they were riding. She and her husband were seriously injured, and have since given up the activity they loved for so long. Wildlife overpasses aim to get deer and many other wildlife across the highways without any human interaction at all, saving lives, preventing serious injuries and protecting wildlife.

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The first wildlife overpass was reportedly installed in Utah in 1975. Over 50 years later, they are more and more common, which is good. Money spent on preventing vehicle-wildlife accidents is worth every penny. The I-25 Greenland Wildlife Overpass, between Larkspur and Monument, was a $15 million project between Colorado Department of Transportation, Colorado Department of Wildlife, and other agencies, taking about a full year to complete.

How Big is North America's Largest Wildlife Overpass That's in Colorado?

The I-25 Greenland Wildlife Overpass is almost giant square over I-25: 200 feet by 209 feet. The entrances on each side are gradually sloped, which invites wildlife to use the crossing, which connects nearly 40,000 acres of habitat on either side of the overpass. This overpass is meant to help big game like elk, mule deer and pronghorn (though any wildlife animal is welcome,) as antlers prohibit them from using tunnels and such.