Wildlife, Public Safety Projects on Highway 21

Signs warning motorists of wildlife crossing hazards have gone up on State Highway 21 east of Boise, and a wildlife underpass is coming later this year; both will improve wildlife and motorist safety. Two "Give Deer and Elk a Brake" wildlife collision "tally signs" have gone up along Highway 21 between Warm Springs Avenue and Robie Creek. The signs display a running total of known wildlife-vehicle collisions on that stretch of road, reminding motorists to slow down when wildlife is present. Later this year, a wildlife crossing underpass will be built near Robie Creek. The crossing project would provide a safe route under Highway 21 for deer, elk and other wildlife, reducing collisions and improving driver safety by keeping wildlife off of the roadway. It is the first time a wildlife underpass has been added to an existing highway in Idaho. Three similar underpasses were built under Highway 95 north of Bonners Ferry during new construction that took the highway through elk winter range. They've been in place since about 2004. "As long as wildlife have to walk in front of fast moving vehicles to get where they have to go, people and wildlife are going to be at risk," said Ed Bottum, manager of Idaho Fish and Game's Boise River Wildlife Management Area. Wildlife-vehicle collisions have been increasing along Highway 21 through the Boise River Wildlife Management Area for 20 years. Each year, between the intersection of Warm Springs Avenue and Robie Creek, officials record 75 to 100 vehicle collisions with mule deer, and 5 to 10 collisions with elk on the highway. The accident rates are not likely to decline given the increasing number of commuters making daily trips to and from Boise. About 7,500 mule deer use the Boise River Wildlife Management Area during winter. Every year animals migrate from their summer range in the high country and cross Highway 21 to reach their winter range on the wildlife management area and in the foothills. "Physically separating fast moving vehicles and wildlife is the best way to protect both the traveling public and wildlife," Bottum said. "The underpass, scheduled to be built this summer, will point us in the right direction toward a long-term solution to the problem of wildlife-vehicle collisions." Idaho Fish and Game biologists put together a map using more than 25 years of deer-vehicle collision records and identified areas with high numbers of accidents. The site for the underpass was picked based on known historic migration and because it has public land on both sides. "On average it costs the public about $8,000 for each deer-vehicle collision and $18,500 for each elk/vehicle collision," ITD highway engineer Greg Vitley said. "The high number of wildlife-vehicle collisions on Highway 21 between mileposts 10 and 21 costs the public an estimated $750,000 to $1 million annually in insurance claims, deductibles, medical expenses, disability leave, lost wildlife resources and the lost manpower and equipment resources caused by removal of the dead deer and elk by state of Idaho personnel." The $550,000 underpass will be paid for with federal stimulus enhancement funding. The tally signs and the wildlife crossing are part of a collaborative effort of the Idaho Transportation Department, Idaho Fish and Game, the City of Boise, Ada and Boise counties, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and members of the public to improve the safety of motorists and wildlife.