Wildlife crossings: ADOT and partners protect drivers and habitats
Wildlife crossings: ADOT and partners protect drivers and habitats
By Steve Elliott / ADOT Communications
It was exciting to be at Sunset Point Rest Area recently to see federal, state and local leaders celebrate big news for those who travel I-17 to and from Arizona’s high country. A $24 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration will enable ADOT, in partnership with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, to build a wildlife overpass south of Flagstaff and other improvements designed to reduce crashes involving wildlife while better connecting habitats.
As our director, Jennifer Toth, shared during a news conference with FHWA Administrator Shailen Bhatt, ADOT has a rich history of coordinating with Game and Fish and other partners on projects that promote safety for both motorists and wildlife. Here’s information on some of these projects.
Opened in 2019, the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway has five wildlife crossings under the roadway and 6 miles where all drainage culverts can be used by wildlife. These features are on the southwest side of the 22-mile freeway, where fencing, concrete barrier and double-wide cattle guards also help keep wildlife away from traffic while promoting habitat connection.
On US 93 near Hoover Dam, a project completed in 2011 built three overpasses specially designed for bighorn sheep. Game and Fish cameras show that they’re being used by these iconic creatures, so much so that this project won one of FHWA’s top environmental honors: the Exemplary Ecosystem Initiative Award. Perhaps more importantly, crashes in this stretch of US 93 declined substantially.
In 2015, FHWA presented its Environmental Excellence Award for an ADOT/Game and Fish collaboration that created a system with 11 underpasses, existing bridges for vehicles, fencing and other improvements on SR 260 east of Payson designed to reduce crashes involving elk and deer. Game and Fish has recorded thousands upon thousands of crossings by 16 species thanks to these improvements launched in 2000. Like the US 93 project, this effort has substantially reduced crashes involving wildlife in the area. And look for more to come on SR 260 east of Payson: Wildlife crossings are part of the Lion Springs Improvement Project scheduled to begin in fiscal 2026.
Motorists using State Route 77 (Oracle Road) north of Tucson will see an overpass that, along with an underpass and fencing connects wildlife habitats in the Santa Catalina and Tortolita mountains while reducing conflicts between vehicles and wildlife. Completed in 2016 thanks to funding from Pima County’s Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), which in 2021 reported that thousands of animals have used these crossings, including a mountain lion shown with its announcement.
On State Route 86 between Tucson and Sells, two wildlife underpasses and 6 miles of fencing installed starting in late 2013 are helping desert creatures pass safely while reducing conflicts with vehicles. Check out this ADOT video of one underpass installation, which also was funded by the Pima County RTA.
If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of wildlife crossings, this 2014 video explains what ADOT does to keep animals and drivers safe.