A Bridge for the Wild: How One Overpass Is Rewriting the Rules of the Road
Sometimes the most hopeful stories start with a simple idea: give wildlife a safe way across. In Colorado, that idea has become North America's largest wildlife overpass, a sweeping land bridge arching over Interstate 25. Nine months after opening, the results are nothing short of remarkable — a 91 percent drop in vehicle collisions along this stretch of highway. What makes this story even more encouraging is how quickly nature responded. Elk herds are already moving across the overpass in groups, reclaiming migration paths that had been cut off by traffic for generations. Pronghorn, known for their reluctance to cross barriers, have returned to the west side of I-25 for the first time in decades. Even smaller, often-overlooked species like the federally threatened Preble's meadow jumping mouse are finding safer passage thanks to thoughtful habitat design built into the crossing. Beyond the ecological win, this project is a lesson in smart, forward-thinking infrastructure. It ...