5/10/2023
Construction of State Highway 21 Wildlife Overpass at Cervidae Peak starts this month
BOISE COUNTY – The next step in the long-range vision to improve motorist safety along State Highway 21, begins this month with construction of the Cervidae Peak Wildlife Overpass, between Lucky Peak and Idaho City at milepost 19.3.
A two-lane bypass road will allow motorist passage during construction, anticipated for completion in October 2023. Motorists can expect reduced speeds and periods of lane closures with flagger control.
In conjunction with the existing wildlife underpass and fencing to the south, this project’s goal is to further reduce the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions while maintaining habitat connectivity for big game. Big game fencing on either side of the overpass will funnel wildlife to the crossing.
Its placement considers terrain, constructability, future maintenance, recreational needs and minimizing impairment of views from the road.
BACKGROUND
In 2010, the Idaho Transportation Department, (ITD) constructed a wildlife underpass on SH-21 at milepost 18.2. Game cameras monitoring that underpass show extensive use by mule deer, elk and other wildlife – all of which pose serious safety and mobility hazards to drivers if they were on the road. This also improved habitat linkage and landscape connectivity to the Boise River Wildlife Management Area and adjacent public lands of the Boise National Forest, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Idaho Department of Lands, City of Boise, and Bureau of Land Management.
As ITD developed the Cervidae Peak project, it received support from Idaho Department of Fish and Game, U.S. Forest Service, Army Corps of Engineers, the City of Boise, Ada and Boise Counties, numerous Non-Governmental Organizations, and the Western Federal Lands Highway Division (WFLHD) of the Federal Highways Division. Investment in these improvements supports the varied missions of these agencies to serve the citizens and taxpayers of Idaho.
STAY INFORMED
Please visit https://itdprojects.org/projects/cervidaeoverpass/ for up-to-date information. ITD appreciates your patience and reminds motorists to always drive with caution through construction areas.