First wildlife overpass on Interstate 5

This will be the first wildlife overpass in Oregon and the only one along the I-5 corridor that connects Mexico to Canada.

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has received a federal grant of over $33 million to construct a wildlife overpass on Interstate 5 in southern Oregon, near the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. This will be the first wildlife overpass in Oregon and the only one along the stretch of I-5 connecting Mexico to Canada.

The grant, announced by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on Friday, will allow ODOT to build an overpass for wildlife that will span both lanes of I-5. Its main goal is to reduce collisions between vehicles and wildlife, which pose risks to both drivers and animals, as well as to restore critical habitats. The overpass will be located just north of the Oregon-California border, in an ecologically rich area known as the Butterfly Reserve.

Kris Strickler, ODOT director, emphasized that this project will not only improve road safety but also help conserve biodiversity in one of the region’s most diverse areas. “I appreciate our federal partners for fully funding this important request,” he said.

Senator Jeff Merkley also celebrated the grant, noting that the wildlife overpass will protect both local species of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument and drivers from costly and dangerous collisions.

Oregon invests to improve road safety and protect wildlife

The total cost of the project will be $37 million, with a federal contribution of $33,200,100 and a match of $3,799,900 from ODOT. Additionally, this funding is complemented by $7 million from the state of Oregon for wildlife corridors.

This is not the first safety project for drivers and wildlife protection implemented by Oregon. In addition to this upcoming overpass, the state already has six underground wildlife crossings, which, according to Department of Transportation data, have reduced collisions by 86%. ODOT continues to work on new locations for overpasses, including on U.S. 20, which will result in further reductions in collisions.

The project has received support from the Southern Oregon Wildlife Crossing Coalition, a group of governmental, tribal, and nonprofit partners that have worked together to ensure the success of the initiative.