About
A Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) grant for $33,200,100 was announced in Dec. 2024 and funding was released in June 2026. The grant award will allow ODOT to construct a wildlife crossing over Interstate 5 in southern Oregon in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. This will be the first wildlife overcrossing for Oregon and for the entire stretch of I-5 between Mexico and Canada.
The project team reviewed multiple I-5 locations for possible sites for a wildlife crossing. The Mariposa Preserve at milepost 1.7 was identified as a priority based on need, funding and constructability.
Location
I-5
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Interstate 5 near milepost 1.7, just north of the Oregon-California border.
Cost and Funding
$33,200,100 - FHWA grant award funding.
$3,799,900 - ODOT matching funds from an allocation to wildlife corridors by the Oregon legislature with the passage of House Bill 5202.
Total cost: $37 million.
Contractor
To be announced.
Benefits
This project's goal is to reduce animal strikes and deaths of various animals such as black bear, deer, elk and other animal species. Aside from killing these animals, strikes are also a hazard to drivers and their passengers as well as causing millions of dollars in medical claims and property damage.
The estimated average collision cost is about $9,000 for deer and $24,000 for an elk.
What Problem Will This Improve?
Wildlife strikes by vehicles can be reduced allowing corridors for wildlife to cross either under or over highways, particularly interstates. The goal is to bridge the fragmented traditional wildlife corridors.
Additional Information
Artist's conception:
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