(Alberta Transportation)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

East Of Canmore

Province announces new wildlife overpass to improve highway safety

Apr 7, 2022 | 5:03 PM

Alberta’s government says it is building a wildlife overpass crossing the Trans-Canada Highway in the Bow Valley area to reduce the risk of wildlife-vehicle collisions.

The wildlife crossing will be located east of Canmore near Lac Des Arcs and is the first wildlife overpass to be built outside of Banff National Park.

“This overpass will drastically reduce the chances of wildlife-vehicle collisions. The overpass will not only increase safety for the travelling public and wildlife, it will save thousands of dollars each year in property damage caused by collisions,” said Rajan Sawhney, Minister of Transportation, on Thursday.

“The wildlife overpass announced today will create a safe, natural route for wildlife crossing in the Bow Valley area, preserving their well-being and protecting the lives of Albertans as they travel Highway 1,” added Jason Nixon, Minister of Environment and Parks.

“The proper coexistence of humans and wildlife is integral to life in the Bow Valley. This overpass, the first of its kind outside a national park in Alberta, will help keep all visitors, commuters and wildlife that travel the Trans-Canada Highway safe on their journey,” noted Miranda Rosin, MLA for Banff-Kananaskis.

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Government officials say construction of the wildlife crossing has begun and is expected to be complete by fall 2023. The project is anticipated to create 102 jobs. The overpass includes 12 kilometres of wildlife fencing along the highway to help guide wildlife toward safe crossing points.

“The Bow Valley Gap overpass is one huge step closer to being used by elk, bears and other wildlife,” shared Adam Linnard, Alberta program manager, Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. “We’re thrilled to see overpasses added to the provincial tool kit, and to see this overpass added to the network of collision mitigations that help make wildlife and people safer and better connected in the Bow Valley. We extend our congratulations to Alberta Transportation on today’s ground breaking.”

“First, we acknowledge and give thanks to the land which has and continues to sustain us. As we recognize the importance of relationships in reconciliation, we want to extend warm greetings to Minister of Transportation Rajan Sawhney on this important project,” stated Chief Clifford Poucette, Wesley First Nation. “We also give thanks to our friends at PME EllisDon for their continued support. This project will bring forth new economic relationships that centre our values and strengths as Stoney Nakoda people and we are excited to continue working together. Ishniyes.”

“I appreciate that Alberta Transportation has heard the concerns of wildlife experts, local environment groups, and residents and visitors of the Bow Valley,” said Lisa Rosvold, reeve, M.D. of Bighorn. “This wildlife overpass will provide vital infrastructure that further protects this environmentally sensitive area, ensures a thriving and reconnected wildlife habitat and increases vehicle safety for everyone on the Trans-Canada Highway.”

“We are extremely pleased to learn of the new wildlife overpass to be constructed just east of Lac Des Arcs. This overpass is another important step to protecting wildlife in the Bow Corridor, serving as an important connection for wildlife across an increasingly busy Trans-Canada Highway,” acknowledged Sean Krausert, mayor, Town of Canmore.

Alberta government quick facts

• The estimated cost of the project is $17.5 million.
• The project will support 102 direct and indirect jobs.
• About 30,000 vehicles travel this stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway every day.
• There are an average of 69 vehicle-wildlife collisions annually on the Trans-Canada Highway between Banff National Park and Highway 40.

“Today’s announcement that the wildlife overpass for the Trans-Canada Highway near Exshaw has started construction is great news for Bow Valley motorists and wildlife,” said NDP Candidate for Banff-Kananaskis Sarah Elmeligi. “Spending years working in conservation, I was thrilled when the NDP commissioned the design work for this project to help improve safety in a high-risk area for wildlife vehicle collisions.

“While we want to ensure that this area of our province stays safe and accessible for all to visit, the UCP have made access to this area more expensive for families during a time they’re already struggling to make ends meet. What’s more concerning, is the additional charge with the $90 Kananaskis pass implemented by the UCP has not yielded any notable improvements to the area.

“Given that the UCP has reduced the parks budget by almost $14 million since forming government, in addition to charging Alberta families this additional fee, it’s clear that Albertans can’t trust the UCP to ensure our parks stay clean, accessible, and safe.”