A wildlife overpass south of Radium Hot Springs will become a reality, with the goal of protecting highway drivers and local animal populations.
The overpass will be constructed south of the community, along a stretch of Highway 93/95 near Mile Hill.
B.C. government officials said the project will include six kilometres of wildlife fencing and gates meant to guide animals to the overpass.
The approval comes after a push from Columbia Valley residents, local government and the riding’s provincial representative.
“There’s a lot of people who put their time and effort into this and I’m so proud of everybody,” said Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Doug Clovechok. “I’m an opposition member of government, yet we worked very closely with the Ministry of Transportation, who did an amazing job, same with the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Forest, Lands and Natural Resources.”
Clovechok said this is a good example of bipartisan collaboration.
“It just goes to show you, when the idea is right and you have the right people in the room, no matter what your political stripes are, you can make something happen,” said Clovechok. “This is one of those legacy projects that people will be talking about for a long time.”
Mayor Mike Gray is glad to see the project move forward.
“Bighorn sheep are iconic to the Village of Radium Hot Springs, and it is exciting to see the wildlife overpass built,” said Gray. “When it is completed, the overpass will protect sheep, other wildlife, as well as motorists on Highway 93/95 – the main highway through the Columbia Valley and a significant wildlife corridor between the Rocky Mountains and the Columbia Wetlands.”
B.C. government officials said the wildlife overpass will go to tender in the weeks ahead, with construction slated to begin shortly after.
“It’s vital that we keep people safe and protect these animals that are so critical to regional biodiversity,” said Rob Fleming, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “With the help of our partners, this new overpass will support safe passage for the bighorn sheep, protecting this herd that is so important to local First Nations and all the people of the East Kootenays.”
The project was made possible with collaboration between Parks Canada, the Village of Radium Hot Springs, Teck Resources Ltd., the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, the Ktunaxa Nation Council and the Shuswap Band.
“Other recent efforts to reduce collisions include prominent wildlife signage, flashing LED warning signs indicating the presence of sheep, and a message sign highlighting changes in sheep activity,” said B.C. government officials. “The speed limit was also temporarily reduced in the Mile Hill area to 70 kilometres per hour. Ministry staff have worked with the Shuswap First Nation and Ktunaxa Nation to provide monitoring of the herd.”
According to the provincial government, about 10 per cent of the local bighorn sheep herd is killed by vehicle collisions each year.
The herd’s population dropped from about 230 in 2003 to 120 in 2019.