Idaho is building a $20.8 million wildlife highway crossing to help deer migrate under a busy highway without losing lives

Image credit: Greater Yellowstone Coalition The construction of a new wildlife underpass in southeast Idaho is about to be completed, after the public, nonprofit agencies, conservation groups and government agencies pushed for years to protect migrating wildlife herds and drivers, according to a report by Idaho Capital Sun.To save animal and human livesThe Rocky Point Wildlife Underpass is expected to be completed this fall along US Highway 30, south of Montpelier in Bear Lake County, public officials and conservationists announced jointly this week. The wildlife crossing features three underpasses and extensive fencing on either side of the project to guide animals such as deer to the crossing. “We were seeing just all kinds of problems there; we were losing at least 100 deer a year,” Idaho Transportation Department public information officer Justin Smith said in an interview Wednesday. “Over 10 years, that is 1,000 animals we know we lost.”Officials also said those collisions cost drivers and taxpayers millions of dollars every year. “Our primary concern is the safety of the travelling public. Whether they are going through a construction zone or whether they are in a wildlife ar...