Colorado's Giant Wildlife Overpass Cut Animal Collisions by 91% and Six More Are Coming

Colorado just proved that building bridges for animals isn’t just a nice idea. It works. North America’s largest wildlife overpass, a 200-foot-wide structure spanning six lanes of I-25 near Larkspur, opened in December and reduced animal-vehicle collisions by 91% in its first ten months. State officials had predicted a 90% drop, so the project actually outperformed expectations. The overpass works alongside five underpass tunnels and fencing that guide wildlife toward safe crossing points, and the list of species using it is impressive: pronghorn, elk, moose, bears, northern leopard frogs, and rabbits.

For anyone who drives rural highways, the stakes here are real. Wildlife collisions cause injuries, cost thousands in vehicle damage, and create traffic delays that ripple for miles. This project shows there’s a proven fix, and it’s one that benefits everyone on the road. A pronghorn was even recorded crossing the overpass, the first sighting of its kind in that area in 30 years. Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson Bridget O’Rourke says the results have been statistically proven, and the state is already scouting six more overpass locations, including a first-of-its-kind crossing designed specifically for Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep.

So the question isn’t whether this works. It clearly does. The question is how fast other states will follow. Would you want to see a wildlife overpass built in your area? Let us know in the comments.