December 24, 2042 3:05 a.m.
Oregon’s senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden have announced that the Oregon Department of Transportation is receiving over $33 million in federal funding to construct the Mariposa Preserve Wildlife Crossing over I-5 in southern Oregon, through the heart of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument.
A joint release said once complete, the wildlife crossing will be among the largest in the nation to significantly improve the movement of a wide array of animals, while increasing the safety of drivers traveling between Ashland and the California border.
What is being called a “historical investment” comes through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highways Administration Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program – made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act. It builds off the $400,000 community-initiated project that Merkley and Wyden secured earlier this year for the design and engineering phase of the project, which was needed to reach this new milestone.
Merkley said, “What a huge win for Southern Oregon! This first-ever I-5 wildlife crossing in Oregon will be instrumental in safeguarding all the special species that call the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument Home, while protecting drivers from dangerous wildlife collisions and costly damages to their vehicles”.
Wyden said, “Ensuring that native species have safe access across I-5 not only protects sensitive ecosystems affected by large roadways, but it also helps increase safety for motorists”.
The release said the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument protects a wealth of biodiversity and connectivity for wildlife – including deer, bear, elk, cougars, and many small animals – which all face great risk as I-5 bisects the connectivity of this monument. The Mariposa Preserve Overcrossing will be located at approximately milepost 1.7 within the monument, will reconstruct a previously natural occurring wildlife corridor to increase habitat connectivity and allow animals to adapt to changing climate conditions. This will drastically reduce harm to wildlife, protect drivers, and improve public safety in the region, according to Merkley and Wyden.