Colorado’s Massive $15 Million Wildlife Overpass Just Saw It’s First Elk
Colorado wildlife officials have recorded the first elk using the new Greenland Wildlife Overpass along I-25, a major milestone for the the world’s largest wildlife overpass on a major roadway. Footage captured by infrared wildlife cameras mounted on the structure shows three elk making their way across, showing how the overpass is working as designed.
The structure spans six lanes of interstate traffic near the Greenland Interchange between Larkspur and Monument, connecting 39,000 acres of habitat on both sides of I-25. It measures 200 feet wide and 209 feet long, with wide, gradually sloped entrances designed to invite use by large game animals including elk, mule deer, and pronghorn.
The overpass was built through a partnership between the Colorado Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and Douglas County, with a federal grant covering the bulk of the $15 million construction cost. The project was completed between January and December 2025.
The crossing fills a 3.7-mile gap in the existing wildlife crossing system and completes a network of underpasses and fencing along 18 miles of I-25 between Castle Rock and Monument. The full system is expected to reduce wildlife-vehicle crashes along that stretch by 90 percent. Before the system was in place, the corridor averaged one wildlife-vehicle collision per day.
The overpass design specifically accommodates elk, which are known to avoid tunnels and enclosed structures. The open layout with clear sight lines suits their movement patterns.
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