KEMMERER — On Sept. 11, WYDOT and Wyoming Game and Fish hosted a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the next step in building a series of wildlife crossings for the Kemmerer South Wildlife Crossing Project located along US Highway 189. 

The project, which is slated for completion October 2027, will be along a 30-mile stretch of US Hwy 189. Oftedal Construction Inc. was awarded the project, and will build a series of seven underpasses, one overpass, and wildlife-friendly fencing along the stretch.

The crossing will benefit the Wyoming Range and Uinta deer herds, as well as the Carter Lease pronghorn herd.

“With all the science, and all the engineering and all the design that goes into a project like this, hopefully we will see an 80-90% decrease in wildlife collisions with automobiles,” WYDOT Director Darin Westby said.

The project is funded by a $24.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Wildlife Crossings Pilot program.  An additional $8.8 million will come from partner contributions, including Game and Fish, WYDOT, the Wyoming Transportation Commission, Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust, and conservation nonprofits throughout the state.

Wyoming is a national leader in wildlife crossings. To date, the state has completed several major projects, including the highly successful Trappers' Point crossing on US 191 and the Dry Piney project on US 189. These initiatives, which often combine federal grants with state and private contributions, typically involve constructing wildlife overpasses and underpasses, along with fencing, to guide animals safely across busy highways.

Game and Fish Director Angi Bruce said the Kemmerer South Wildlife Project will play an essential role in wildlife and human safety for years to come.

“The work here is extremely intentional,” said Bruce. “We don’t just throw up overpasses and underpasses - these crossings have been carefully designed and engineered by our experts to maximize safety for wildlife and humans."

-WGFD-