Phoenix – Work is set to begin this month on a wildlife overpass south of Flagstaff on Interstate 17. According to Tuesday’s announcement From the Arizona Department of Transport.

A new wildlife overpass in northern Arizona is located north of the Milepost on Willard Springs Road.

The range of the two bridges, supported by steel reinforced concrete girders, will be built 12 miles south of Flagstaff.

Currently, the eight miles of land built on the elevated tracks do not have bridges and only one dark vert can use elk and deer. From 2018 to 2022, the area accounted for 58% of wildlife-involved collisions from Stoneman Lake Road to Flagstaff.

What do new wildlife south of Flagstaff look like?

Adot is partnering with Arizona’s Games and Fish Division to build a $15.8 million overpass.

Funding for the project comes from grants through the Federal Highway Administration’s Wildlife Crossing Pilot Program.

It is 100 feet wide and is designed to help a variety of animals safely cross the highway.

The overpass is also covered by the earth and vegetation, Addott said.

The project also includes the installation of an 8-foot tall wildlife fencing, but is expected to be completed in fall 2026.

Why is Adot building new wildlife south of Flagstaff?

Transporters want to reduce collisions between vehicles and animals, such as bears and elks.

This is one of many ways Adot is trying to reduce crashes between wildlife and vehicles.

In January, the department announced a new GIS mapping tool that identifies where collisions between vehicles are most common.