Wildlife Bridge on Colorado’s I-25 Sees 91% Drop in Animal Collisions
September 21, 2026
A pioneering wildlife overpass on Interstate 25 in Colorado has drastically reduced animal collisions since its December opening. The bridge has decreased accidents involving wildlife by 91%, offering a safer passage across the busy highway.
Situated near the Greenland exit between Larkspur and Monument, the bridge spans 209 by 200 feet. This significant infrastructure aims to facilitate the safe movement of animals across a dangerous section of the highway that previously claimed many lives, especially during peak seasons of migration.
Previously, collisions involving deer were frequent, with reports indicating as many as one deer being struck daily during the spring and fall migrations. Now, it’s a different scenario.
Chuck Attardo, an environmental manager with the Colorado Department of Transportation, noted, “We’re seeing elk herds cross the bridge. We’re seeing pronghorn for the first time in decades cross over to the west side of I-25 because of the bridge.” More details can be found in the Colorado Department of Transportation report.
The overpass caters to a wide range of wildlife, including bears, deer, coyotes, and smaller animals like the federally threatened Preble’s meadow jumping mouse. Logs are strategically placed on the bridge to provide shelter for these smaller creatures, ensuring their safety from predators during their crossings.
Brandon Marette, a wildlife biologist with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, emphasized the bridge’s inclusivity, saying, “It’s not just the big game species, but also the smaller.”
This initiative isn’t limited to the overpass alone; the project also features five underpasses and carefully designed fencing to guide the animals towards these crossings. To further encourage wildlife to use the bridge, officials are working on enhancing the area with vegetation.
The benefits of this wildlife crossing extend to human users of the road as well. With fewer animal-vehicle collisions, there’s a notable decrease in injuries, fatalities, vehicle damage, emergency response costs, and traffic congestion.
However, the project’s success is more than numbers for Marette. He recalls a significant moment captured in a photograph, showing an elk mother leading her calf under I-25: “All the hard work for six years all came to fruition in that one moment,” he said, marking it as a defining achievement.
With the demonstrated success of the I-25 overpass, Colorado officials are considering expanding wildlife crossing projects across the state. Laura Sanford, executive director of the Douglas Land Conservancy, highlights the broader impact, stating, “It’s something that is one of the most altruistic things you can do because it’s not just for you; it is for everyone.”
