Deadly Mule Deer Collisions on U.S. Highway 30 Near Montpelier
- The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is initiating a project to install wildlife underpasses on a dangerous section of U.S.
- The project focuses on a six-mile stretch of the highway near Rocky Point, identified as one of the most severe wildlife-vehicle conflict zones in Southeast Idaho.
- According to data from the ITD, approximately 100 mule deer are killed annually on a 20-mile stretch of US-30 south of Montpelier.
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is initiating a project to install wildlife underpasses on a dangerous section of U.S. Highway 30 near Montpelier to reduce deadly collisions between vehicles and migrating mule deer.
The project focuses on a six-mile stretch of the highway near Rocky Point, identified as one of the most severe wildlife-vehicle conflict zones in Southeast Idaho. This area serves as a critical bottleneck for a regionally important mule deer migration route.
According to data from the ITD, approximately 100 mule deer are killed annually on a 20-mile stretch of US-30 south of Montpelier. A significant concentration of these losses occurs at Rocky Point, where about 70 percent of those deer deaths are reported within a four-mile section between milepost 443, and 447.
Project Scope and Infrastructure
The infrastructure improvements are designed to guide migrating wildlife away from the highway and toward safe crossing points. The project includes the installation of three wildlife underpasses: two concrete box culverts and one bridge.
To ensure the effectiveness of the underpasses, the ITD will install six road miles of eight-foot-tall wildlife fencing. This fencing is intended to funnel deer toward the underpasses rather than allowing them to cross the highway directly, which the department expects will dramatically reduce the likelihood of collisions.
The project is situated on Highway 30 between Montpelier and the Wyoming border. Beyond improving driver safety, the new structures are intended to protect the migration corridor and maintain connectivity between essential seasonal habitats for mule deer.
Funding and Implementation
The project is supported by federal funding provided through the Federal Highway Administration’s Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program. This pilot program awarded a total of $125 million to 16 states, representing one of the largest federal investments of its kind.
Reports on the funding amount vary between sources, with one indicating a $12 million underpass project and another stating the ITD secured $20.8 million in grant funding for the three underpasses near Montpelier.
The ITD and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game collaborated on the design of the crossings. Construction for the improvements is anticipated to take place in 2026.
Alissa Salmore, the District 5 environmental planner for the ITD, noted that local citizens and the Montpelier shed crew have sought a solution for this specific stretch of highway for decades.
Alissa Salmore, ITD District 5 environmental planner
It will be good to finally deliver this project, both for people and for wildlife.