North America's Largest Wildlife Bridge Opens in Colorado

A groundbreaking wildlife overpass just opened in Colorado, giving thousands of animals a safe path across one of the state's busiest highways.

The Greenland Wildlife Overpass spans Interstate 25 near Larkspur, stretching 200 feet wide and covering more than 41,800 square feet. That makes it the largest wildlife crossing structure in North America and one of the biggest in the world.

Colorado's Department of Transportation finished the project in December, right on schedule and on budget. Workers covered the bridge deck with dirt and native vegetation so animals would feel comfortable using it. The entire build took less than a year.

The bridge connects 39,000 acres of habitat split by the six-lane highway. Moose, elk, black bears, mountain lions, mule deer, and pronghorn can now move freely between feeding and breeding grounds that were cut off for decades.

Before this crossing system existed, wildlife-vehicle crashes happened nearly every day during spring and fall migration seasons. Drivers faced constant danger, and animals paid with their lives trying to cross the busy interstate where 100,000 vehicles pass daily.

The overpass is the centerpiece of a larger wildlife crossing system along an 18-mile stretch near Castle Rock. Five smaller underpasses already built along this route are working beautifully. State research shows both large and small mammals are using them regularly.

The Ripple Effect

This project shows what happens when different groups work together toward a shared goal. The Federal Highway Administration partnered with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the state transportation department, and private organizations to make it happen.

A federal grant called the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program covered most of the $15 million cost. That investment will protect both human lives and wildlife populations for generations.

Transportation Director Shoshana Lew says the crossing system should reduce wildlife-vehicle crashes by 90 percent. That means safer roads for families and protected migration routes for animals that have traveled these paths for thousands of years.

Wildlife Manager Matt Martinez spent nine years planning this moment. He says the overpass removes a major barrier that blocked animal movement and threatened species survival in the region.

Governor Jared Polis celebrated Colorado's leadership in protecting both drivers and wildlife, calling the overpass a "momentous feat." The success of this project could inspire similar crossings across the country, creating safer highways and healthier ecosystems everywhere.