Maine Expands Wildlife Tunnels to Save Moose and Bears

Drivers in northern Maine know the drill: avoid the roads at dawn and dusk, or risk hitting a moose. Now, a $9.3 million project is giving wildlife a safer way to cross.

Every year, more than 500 moose and 3,000 deer are struck by vehicles in Maine. Caribou, a town in Aroostook County where moose collisions are most common, is home to two tunnels that wildlife already use to pass under Routes 1 and 164.

The Maine Department of Transportation is expanding both tunnels to make them tall and wide enough for moose, bears, and deer. The project, funded through the federal Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program, will also reconnect streams to help rare fish like wild Atlantic salmon and brook trout swim through.

Right now, bears and foxes already use the tunnels, along with turtles and snakes. But moose need more headroom. The new concrete tunnel on Route 164 will stand 17 feet high, tall enough for even the biggest bull moose to walk through comfortably.

Construction crews are already at work. The Route 164 tunnel is expected to finish in April 2027, with the Route 1 expansion following in November 2029.

The Ripple Effect

Fewer wildlife collisions mean safer roads for people driving to work, hauling potatoes, or transporting timber. Local leaders say residents have changed their entire schedules to avoid peak animal crossing times.

The tunnels will also boost tourism by making roads safer and creating better wildlife viewing opportunities. Penny Thompson, Caribou's city manager, told reporters that anything keeping animals off the roads is deeply appreciated by locals.

The project will restore natural pathways that have been cut off for decades. Wildlife experts expect animals to need time to adjust, but once they do, these expanded crossings could save hundreds of lives every year, both human and animal.

When the tunnels open, moose won't be the only winners. Drivers will finally be able to travel without fear, and an entire ecosystem will reconnect beneath two busy Maine highways.