Colorado Completes New Greenland Wildlife Overpass
The 200-by-209-foot structure connects 39,000 acres of habitat to reduce vehicle-animal collisions on Interstate 25.
Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Wildlife
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The Colorado Department of Transportation finished construction on the $15 million Greenland wildlife overpass in December 2025. This project spans six lanes of Interstate 25 to provide a safe crossing for local wildlife.
Why it matters
The overpass addresses a critical gap in regional conservation by helping species like pronghorn that previously avoided existing underpasses. It aims to maintain the safety improvements seen along the corridor by ensuring animals have a consistent way to navigate the highway.
The new overpass measures 200 by 209 feet and is supported by 14.1 miles of fencing installed along the I-25 corridor. This infrastructure project connects 39,000 acres of habitat for animals crossing the highway where over 100,000 vehicles travel daily.
The players
Colorado Department of Transportation
This state agency manages the infrastructure, construction, and maintenance of Colorado's highway systems and transportation network.
The details
Fences steer wildlife toward the newly completed bridge and five existing underpasses. Between 2022 and 2024, cameras observed 16,749 mule deer, 1,791 white-tailed deer, and 866 elk using the underpass system.
Timeline
Between 2013 and 2017, the annual average of wildlife-vehicle crashes was 32.2.
From 2022 to 2024, cameras recorded animal passages through the underpasses.
In 2024, wildlife-vehicle collisions along the I-25 South Gap decreased by 91 percent.
In August 2025, the state published a monitoring study on wildlife crashes.
In December 2025, CDOT announced the completion of the wildlife overpass.
Culture Shift
The Greenland overpass follows the conservation objectives established by the I-25 South Gap project. It marks a broader shift toward integrating wildlife connectivity into major interstate infrastructure to balance human travel and ecological migration.
Drivers on Interstate 25 should continue to watch for wildlife along the 14.1 miles of fenced corridor despite the improved safety measures. These structures help lower the risk of sudden vehicle-animal collisions for the 100,000 commuters using the highway daily.
The takeaway
Wildlife overpasses demonstrate that infrastructure projects can successfully reduce collision risks while reconnecting fragmented habitats. Residents can support these efforts by staying alert in designated wildlife corridors and reporting sightings to local transportation authorities.
Further reading
For more information on regional conservation efforts, see Wildlife.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ECOticias.
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