The Yellowstone Safe Passages project in Montana’s Paradise Valley, aiming to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions, has achieved an important milestone. YSP, a coalition of 15 local, state, and nonprofit organizations, secured state funding for an engineering feasibility study to build two wildlife overpasses at the Dome Mountain site on U.S. Highway 89. This section of the highway is known for frequent wildlife crossings, including elk, deer, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, grizzly bears, black bears, and wolves.
After spending four years collaborating with various stakeholders and releasing a Wildlife and Transportation Assessment, YSP identified Dome Mountain as the top priority site for wildlife crossing structures due to the high number of reported crashes and animal carcasses. Despite record-high wildlife-vehicle collision rates in Paradise Valley, the group remains optimistic about overcoming challenges and moving forward with the project.
Next steps include designing the structures and securing additional funding, with hopes of beginning construction within the next two years. YSP is confident in its readiness to tackle these challenges and continue working towards the project’s completion. The Yellowstone Safe Passages project’s success in securing state funding marks a significant step forward in their mission to protect wildlife and improve road safety in the Paradise Valley area. By targeting the Dome Mountain site for wildlife overpasses, YSP is addressing a crucial need to reduce collisions and preserve local wildlife populations. Through careful planning and collaboration, YSP has positioned itself to move ahead with the next phase of the project, confident in their ability to navigate obstacles and bring their vision to fruition.