Construction to begin on wildlife overpass near Lucky Peak. Expect low speeds, closures
Construction is slated to begin on a wildlife overpass between Lucky Peak and Idaho City this month, and it could greatly affect traffic on Idaho Highway 21 all summer and into the fall.
The Idaho Transportation Department has said the goal of the more than $7 million project is to improve safety on the road by reducing the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions.
The Cervidae Peak Wildlife Overpass will be about 120-150 feet long and located along Idaho 21 at milepost 19.3, not far from the Robie Creek area. ITD plans to start building the overpass this month and finish in October.
A two-lane bypass road will allow passage during construction, but drivers can expect reduced speeds and lane closures.
Fencing on both sides of the overpass will funnel big game like deer, elk and moose to the crossing, according to a news release from ITD. An interactive map of the site is available on ITD’s website.
The agency said it constructed a similar wildlife underpass in 2010 at milepost 18.2 and found via wildlife cameras that it received extensive use by animals that would’ve otherwise posed a hazard to drivers on the road.
With the new overpass, ITD seeks to reduce wildlife collisions by 80% on the stretch of the highway between Lucky Peak and Idaho City, according to its website.
“The overpass is an important driver safety initiative,” ITD spokesperson Brian Rick said by phone. “It will significantly reduce the chances of animal collisions.”
This story was originally published May 10, 2023 at 6:01 PM.
