Idaho is building a $20.8 million wildlife highway crossing to help deer migrate under a busy highway without losing lives

Construction of a new wildlife underpass in southeastern Idaho is nearing completion, after years of pressure from the public, nonprofit agencies, conservation groups and government agencies to protect herds and drivers of migratory wildlife, according to an Idaho Capital Sun report.

To save animal and human lives.

The Rocky Point Wildlife Underpass is expected to be completed this fall along US Highway 30 south of Montpelier in Bear Lake County, public officials and conservationists jointly announced this week. The wildlife crossing features three underpasses and extensive fencing on both sides of the project to guide animals such as deer to the crossing. “We were seeing all kinds of problems there; we were losing at least 100 deer a year,” Idaho Department of Transportation public information officer Justin Smith said in an interview Wednesday. “In 10 years, we know we have lost 1,000 animals.”Officials also said those collisions cost drivers and taxpayers millions of dollars each year. “Our primary concern is the safety of the traveling public. Whether they are going through a construction zone or in a wildlife area, we want to keep people safe on our roads, and this is part of that effort,” Smith said.The underpass represents a partnership between the Idaho Department of Transportation, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Idaho Conservation League and Bear Lake County, officials said. “Rocky Point shows what is possible when agencies, conservation, sports groups and local communities work toward the same goal,” said Matt Lucia, Idaho conservation manager at the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, in a written statement. “[The Greater Yellowstone Coalition] has been a part of this project for years, contributing time, energy and funds to the effort. The next step is to ensure that the federal funds that made this project possible remain available.”To build the crossing, the Idaho Department of Transportation obtained a $20.8 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration’s Wildlife Crossing Pilot Program. The funding comes from the federal Infrastructure Jobs and Investment Act that was passed by Congress and signed into law by former President Joe Biden in 2021. The federal grant was estimated to cover 98% of construction costs, but the project may come under budget, allowing the state to return some of the money to the Federal Highway Administration, Smith said.

More wildlife crossings in Idaho?

Interestingly, the Rocky Point Wildlife Underpass near Montpelier is the second most important highway crossing for wildlife in Idaho. In 2023, crews built the Cervidae Peak Wildlife Overpass on Idaho Highway 21 near Lucky Peak between Boise and Idaho City. The Cervidae Overpass features over a mile of big game fencing to direct animals to the safe crossing.Fish and Game officials installed a wildlife camera at the crossing to document how it is working. In 2024, state officials released a time-lapse video showing more than 1,000 deer safely using the Cervidae Peak wildlife overpass between October 17, 2024 and December 18, 2024.Smith added that Idaho Department of Transportation officials are studying other highway corridors with large wildlife populations, and the state is open to pursuing additional wildlife crossings. “It’s something that as Idaho’s population continues to grow, we need to look at ways to protect drivers and protect wildlife,” Smith said. “It’s something we continue to look at.”“We are always open to doing whatever is necessary for the safety of the traveling public; that is our primary concern,” Smith added. “We will continue to look at these projects as ways to improve safety on our roadways.” The Idaho Legislature has also called for more wildlife crossings. In March, the Idaho Legislature adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 124.The resolution encourages the Idaho Legislature, the Idaho Congressional delegation, the governor, the Idaho Department of Transportation, and Fish and Game to recognize and support wildlife corridors to improve public safety and protect big game migration corridors.“The Legislature strongly supports advancing public safety and conservation of Idaho’s big game migratory corridors through the development and implementation of wildlife crossings where appropriate and with the support of local communities,” the resolution states.