World's Largest Wildlife Bridge Opens in Colorado

Six-lane overpass designed to eliminate 90% of wildlife collisions

North America's largest wildlife overpass has opened on Colorado's Interstate 25, spanning six lanes of busy highway to reconnect essential habitats for elk, deer, and antelope. The innovative structure offers a glimpse into the future of transportation infrastructure that prioritizes coexistence with wildlife.
Unlike underground tunnels that many ungulates avoid, this open bridge provides clear sightlines and natural vegetation that feels safe to migrating animals. Engineers designed every detail with animal behavior in mind, from the gentle slopes that accommodate different species to the landscaping that creates familiar travel corridors.
The overpass addresses a critical safety issue on a stretch of highway that previously averaged one wildlife collision per day. Experts predict the structure will reduce these dangerous encounters by 90%, protecting both wildlife and human drivers on one of Colorado's busiest interstate corridors.
The project represents a fundamental shift in how transportation agencies approach road design. Rather than viewing wildlife as an obstacle to efficient travel, the overpass treats animals as legitimate users of the landscape whose needs can be accommodated through thoughtful engineering.
Construction required coordination between transportation engineers, wildlife biologists, and landscape architects to create a structure that serves both highway safety and ecosystem connectivity. The result bridges not just physical space but different approaches to infrastructure development.

Key Facts

• North America's largest wildlife overpass
• Spans six lanes of Interstate 25 in Colorado
• Designed for elk, deer, and antelope migration
• Expected 90% reduction in wildlife-vehicle collisions
• Previous rate: approximately one collision per day
• Open design with clear sightlines preferred by ungulates