Deer, elk and even bears are finally getting their own highway bridge over I-17, 12 miles south of Flagstaff—think of it as a wildlife expressway to dodge cars and keep everyone safer.
This $15.8 million Willard Springs project, run by Arizona Department of Transportation and AZ Game & Fish, kicked off last spring, paused for winter, and ramps back up this month with 8 miles of tall fencing and soil layering over the 100-foot-wide span. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)—the feds who fund road upgrades—chipped in $24 million.
How the Animals Use It
Tall fences line the highway for miles and funnel them like a corridor—no road access, just instinct or quick learning toward the bridge.They'll top it with dirt, local plants, and shrubs to feel like home; global cams show elk crossing heavy after a few months' warmup and learning curve.
Why It Works
These setups slash crashes 80-96%, like Banff's bridges or Utah's deer span (98% win); even cautious bears figure it out. Governor Katie Hobbs says it keeps travelers safe while saving "wildlife that make Arizona so special." Half-done by November (26 girders up), it will be completed by fall of 2026.
Audrey Navarro from ADOT calls the area "a hot spot for elk," adding they've built wildlife crossings for a decade now. Wildlife crashes make up 27% of wrecks here, about two per mile yearly—yikes.
ADOT's Jennifer Toth confirms: "this boosts a key route to the Grand Canyon while linking animal habitats."
This journalist trekked the Flagstaff woods hoping for Bambi's take—no dice. She was unavailable to comment. Guess the animal jury's out on whether humans nailed the bridge design, but data says the odds are good they'll take to it.
