North America’s Largest Wildlife Overpass Opens in Colorado
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📰 The quick summary: North America’s largest wildlife overpass has opened over a six-lane highway in Colorado, connecting 39,000 acres of habitat and giving elk, bears, mountain lions, and other species a safe passage across a road that previously saw an average of one wildlife-vehicle crash per day.
📈 One key stat: At 200 feet wide and 209 feet long, covering 41,800 square feet, the Greenland overpass is the single largest bridge structure for wildlife in North America, and it is expected to reduce wildlife-vehicle crashes along the corridor by 90%.
💬 One key quote: “After more than nine years of planning and work, Colorado Parks and Wildlife is excited,” said Wildlife Manager Matt Martinez. “We look forward to deer, elk, bears, mountain lions and many other species safely crossing I-25, once a major barrier to migration and wildlife movements.“
1️⃣ The big picture: A major new wildlife overpass has opened along Interstate 25 near Larkspur, Colorado, giving large mammals a safe way to cross one of the state’s busiest highways. Measuring 200 feet wide and 209 feet long, the Greenland overpass is the largest bridge structure built for wildlife in North America. Completed ahead of schedule and on budget, it connects 39,000 acres of habitat on both sides of the six-lane highway for species including elk, pronghorn, black bears, mule deer, and mountain lions. Before this crossing system was built, the stretch of road saw an average of one wildlife-vehicle collision per day during peak seasons. Funded largely through a federal Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program grant, the total construction cost came to $15 million.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: With wildlife-vehicle crashes projected to drop by 90%, both drivers and animals gain a much safer environment along one of Colorado’s most heavily traveled corridors. Connecting 39,000 acres of habitat on either side of the highway, the overpass restores critical migration routes that large mammals rely on for food, breeding, and seasonal movement. Healthier wildlife corridors support stronger, more genetically diverse animal populations over the long term, benefiting entire ecosystems. Projects like this also demonstrate that infrastructure and conservation can work together, offering a replicable model for reducing human-wildlife conflict on busy roads across the US and beyond. Completing the structure ahead of schedule and on budget shows that large-scale, nature-friendly infrastructure is both practical and achievable.
3️⃣ What’s next: Researchers and wildlife managers will monitor which species use the overpass and how frequently, building a data record that can inform future crossing projects. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has already confirmed that five underpasses in the same corridor are successfully being used by both large and small mammals. Similar projects, including what will be the world’s largest wildlife crossing over the 101 freeway in Los Angeles, are in progress and may benefit from lessons learned here.
Read the full story here: Good News Network – North America’s Largest Wildlife Overpass Opens for Animals to Safely Cross in Colorado
