There are an average of 1,270 reported wildlife-vehicle collisions every year in the state of Arizona.
But a growing investment in wildlife crossings aims to change that.
Earlier this year, the state government passed a 2027 fiscal state budget, including dedicated funding for planning and construction of wildlife crossings, with a recurring annual appropriation of $700,000.
This update occurs while the state’s Department of Transportation is at work constructing Arizona’s 27th highway wildlife crossing. The Willard Springs Wildlife Overpass will be a 100-foot-wide overpass above Interstate 17, 12 miles south of Flagstaff.
The concrete bridge will span all four lanes of the highway from east to west. It will have tall parapets on the sides, along with eight miles of new fencing, native vegetation plantings, escape ramps, and adjoining structures to guide the animals onto the path.
Crews continue to work on the overpass near Flagstaff. Photo courtesy of ADOT
“Crews are right now installing miles of tall fencing on either side of the overpass,” a video shared by the Arizona DOT in September 2025 explained. “This will act as a funnel to guide [animals] through the crossing.”
After a pause in construction for a winter shutdown, the state anticipates the overpass to be completed by fall 2026.
The project cost $15.8 million, funded by the state’s DOT and the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The goal is to reduce collisions involving large animals like elk, deer, and other wildlife.
The Game and Fish Department chose this location based on detailed research, following the movements of radio-collared elk as they migrated, searched for food and water, and found mates, according to Arizona Public Radio.
The Willard Springs Wildlife Overpass is set to be completed in the fall of this year. Photo courtesy of ADOT
More than half of the collisions on this particular stretch of road over the last four years have involved wildlife, so the state turned to a solution they knew worked.
Arizona currently has 26 dedicated highway wildlife crossings, as well as a large network of underpasses and a robust canal network for wildlife.
The existing highway structures include:
- 13 underpasses built for elk and deer along State Route 260
- 3 overpasses and 2 underpasses built for Desert Bighorn Sheep along U.S. Highway 93
- 1 overpass and 5 underpasses along Interstate 11
- 1 overpass and 1 underpass built for the Sonoran desert ecosystem along State Route 77
The Willard Springs Wildlife Overpass is part of a wave of three new structures, which will add three new overpasses in total. This includes the I-17 location at Willard Springs, along with another I-17 crossing at Kachina Village, and an I-40 crossing west of Parks.
According to Arizona Public Media, the state’s growing collection of wildlife corridors has been credited with an average 90% drop in wildlife-related accidents.
“By investing in dedicated funding for wildlife crossings, the state can help reduce dangerous and costly collisions while reconnecting animal habitat across the landscape,” Pew’s Andres Esparza, who supports conservation efforts in Arizona, praised the state’s updates.
“These projects are proven to deliver lasting benefits for drivers, wildlife, and local communities.”
While experts are hopeful to see success in reducing collisions at Willard Springs, they will back up the project by re-collaring elk and using cameras to monitor the success of the crossing once it’s finally complete.
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Header image courtesy of Arizona Department of Transportation
