A 100-foot-wide wildlife overpass is set to begin construction near Willard Springs on Interstate 17, part of a $15.8 million project to reduce animal collisions with vehicles and reconnect fragmented habitats in northern Arizona.The overpass marks the culmination of nearly two decades of planning between the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) and the U.S. Forest Service. It will be built north of Willard Springs Road near milepost 327 on I-17, and is estimated to finish construction in fall 2026. Named Willard Springs Wildlife Overpass, the project will include eight-foot-tall fencing that will span roughly 8 miles, guiding animals toward the crossing away from traffic. It is mostly funded by a grant from the Federal Highway Administration’s Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program.
Willard Springs is one of the first Arizona projects to receive funding through the grant. According to Jeff Gagnon, AZGFD’s statewide connectivity biologist, the project aims to address frequent elk collisions and persistent issues with habitat fragmentation across northern Arizona.Gagnon said AZGFD used GPS data from collared elk and deer to identify spots along the I-17 where animals struggled to cross or were hit trying to do so. The movement patterns helped pinpoint the stretch near Willard Springs as a priority site.“What we saw is that roads like I-17 and Interstate 40 are almost completely fragmenting some populations,” Gagnon said. “They can’t get to food, water or migrate. It’s a serious ecological issue.”The crossing is designed not only to save animal lives but also to prevent deadly crashes involving elk, which can weigh up to 1,100 pounds according to ADOT.
…
[wpts_spin]{Read|See} the {entire|full} article {on|about} infrastructure development in Arizona, or, read more news about {Arizona real estate investing|real estate investing in Arizona|real estate investing in Arizona}. We {warmly |}{welcome and |}encourage you to {mention|recommend} our site to your{ circle of|} fellow investors, {letting them |allowing them to }benefit from the valuable{ resources and|} insights we provide. {Thanks!|Thank you!}[/wpts_spin]
