Over 1.3 million readers this year!

WYDOT receives $24.3M federal grant for Kemmerer wildlife crossing project

Funding will be used for an overpass, several underpasses and fencing along a 30-mile stretch of US 189 south of Kemmerer

Wildlife are captured on trail cameras at one of two underpasses on the northern end of the Dry Piney wildlife project in February 2023. (WYDOT Kemmerer)

GILLETTE, Wyo. — The Wyoming Department of Transportation will receive a $24.3 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to complete a wildlife crossing project south of Kemmerer.

The grant, announced Monday in a Wyoming Game and Fish Department news release, will be used for the Kemmerer Wildlife Crossing Project on U.S. Highway 189 in southwest Wyoming. The project will consist of five underpasses, one overpass and fencing improvements along a 30-mile stretch between Evanston and Kemmerer. 

“This project exemplifies Wyoming’s leadership in demonstrating a collaborative approach where we work together to solve problems,” Gov. Mark Gordon said. “Through the efforts of our agencies and the involvement of private-sector partners and landowners, we’re able to create a safer transportation corridor that conserves our world-class wildlife along a critical migration.”

The project will provide motorists with a safer means of travel while ensuring wildlife can continue to migrate between seasonal ranges. Along U.S. 189, an average of 80 deer–vehicle collisions are reported annually — although this number is likely underreported, Game and Fish said. Traffic is expected to increase on this stretch of road in the coming years as a nuclear power facility will be constructed near Kemmerer. Once completed, this project is anticipated to eliminate 80–90% of wildlife–vehicle collisions. 

“This is a great triumph for the state,” said Darin Westby, WYDOT director. “Our mission is to provide a safe and effective transportation system for all of Wyoming, including its wildlife. This wouldn’t be possible without all of the external and internal partners involved, including the Transportation Commission, WYDOT’s grant writers in Cheyenne, WYDOT’s crews in southwest Wyoming and anyone who has donated time, resources or their hard-earned dollars in support of Wyoming’s wildlife. This is truly everyone’s project.”

The Kemmerer project will help the Wyoming Range and Uinta deer herds as well as the Carter Lease pronghorn herd. 

Hwy189_WVC_10July2023-(1).png
(Wyoming Game and Fish Department)

“Wildlife is valuable to Wyoming and the entire country. This project is an investment that helps preserve the historic and iconic migration of mule deer and pronghorn and aligns well with Wyoming’s commitment to conservation,” said Brian Nesvik, Wyoming Game and Fish Department director. “We are pleased that the Federal Highway Administration also recognizes the value of Wyoming’s comprehensive wildlife crossing plan and the partnerships that are making our state’s plan work.”

The Federal Highway Administration award is part of the $350 million available through the federal wildlife crossing pilot program funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Approximately $112 million was allocated during this first round of awards, with WYDOT receiving more than 20% of the available funding for the Kemmerer project.

The total cost of this project is expected to be $37.4 million. In addition to the federal grant and $4.2 million in WYDOT formula funds, the Wyoming Transportation Commission, Game and Fish Commission, Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust and partners contributed $8.8 million to fully fund the project. The project will go out to bid in early 2024 and is expected to take two to three construction seasons to complete. 

This project would not be possible without the support from public, private and nonprofit partners including the WYldlife Fund, Transportation Commission, Wyoming Game and Fish Commission, Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust, Wyoming Legislature and Wyoming Congressional delegation. 

“I am thankful and excited to have had the opportunity to work with WYDOT, Game and Fish, industry, foundations, and nonprofit organizations to secure this incredibly important funding source to conserve Wyoming’s incredible iconic wildlife,” said Chris McBarnes, president of the WYldlife Fund. “Wyoming is showing the power of public–private partnerships which will continue to produce positive results for wildlife and advance the overall prosperity of our state.”

The following donors helped accrue nearly $1 million to help fund this project, per Game and Fish:

  • Genesis Alkali Wyoming
  • Knobloch Family Foundation
  • Mule Deer Foundation
  • Muley Fanatic Foundation Blue Ridge Chapter
  • Muley Fanatic Foundation Headquarters
  • NextEra Energy Foundation
  • Project West
  • Rocky Mountain Power Foundation
  • SOS Well Services
  • Supporters of the annual Golf For Wildlife Outing
  • Spire Storage
  • TerraPower
  • The WYldlife Fund
  • Williams Energy
  • Wyoming Wildlife Federation

Early successes of wildlife crossings in Wyoming have made it clear that WYDOT, Game and Fish and partners could cooperatively address the issues of roads and wildlife. In 2017, stakeholders partnered to host a summit to find solutions to wildlife–vehicle collisions in Wyoming. During the summit, the group identified 240 locations statewide to reduce such collisions. Since then, momentum on wildlife crossing projects has continued to build.

In 2018, the Wyoming Legislature approved a specialized conservation license plate. Proceeds from the license plates help fund wildlife crossing projects to prevent vehicle–animal collisions. Nearly 3,000 conservation license plates have been sold.

To learn more about wildlife crossings and get involved, visit the Game and Fish website.


Back

Related