The Federal Highway Administration is honoring the Wyoming Department of Transportation this week. Today, the department received the Exemplary Ecosystem Initiative Award for its 9.7 million dollar project near Pinedale. WYDOT is building highway overpasses and underpasses that allow wildlife to safely cross major roadways.
WYDOT District Engineer John Eddins says many big game species migrate through the Pinedale area every year, and more than 130 animals end up being killed by motor vehicles. Eddins says this project should drastically reduce collisions and roadkill.
“We’re estimating saving 20 vehicle wildlife collisions per year and 90 big game deaths per year.”
Eddins says wildlife underpasses have reduced roadside carcasses and vehicle-wildlife collisions in other parts of the state.
This project will include roadside fences, six new underpasses and two 150-feet-wide overpasses meant for the 7,000 pronghorns that pass through every year.