Why It Matters
A dangerous stretch of highway near Montpelier, Idaho, has long been one of the deadliest corridors for mule deer in the region — and for motorists who encounter them. Construction of three wildlife underpasses on U.S. Highway 30 is now set to begin, bringing decades of community requests closer to reality and promising significant improvements to driver safety in southeast Idaho.
The project sits at a geographic chokepoint known as Rocky Point, where migratory mule deer are funneled through a narrow corridor between Montpelier and the Wyoming border. The resulting wildlife-vehicle collisions have made this area one of the most hazardous segments of the highway.
What Happened
The Idaho Transportation Department, in coordination with Idaho Fish and Game, announced that construction on the US 30 wildlife underpass project will begin in April 2026 near Montpelier in Bear Lake County. The project is grant-funded and will be carried out under ITD direction.
The construction scope includes the installation of two concrete box culverts, one bridge, and approximately six road miles of eight-foot-tall fencing along highway mileposts 442 through 448. The fencing is designed to guide wildlife toward the underpasses rather than across the highway surface.
Project completion is estimated for Fall 2026.
By the Numbers
- $12 million — Total cost of the US 30 wildlife underpass project near Montpelier
- $125 million — Total federal grant pool distributed to 16 states through the Federal Highway Administration’s Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program
- 70% — Share of deer killed on one 20-mile stretch of US 30 that are reported at Rocky Point specifically
- 6 road miles — Length of eight-foot fencing to be installed along the project corridor
- 3 — Total wildlife crossing structures planned: two concrete box culverts and one bridge
What They’re Saying
Zach Lockyer, regional wildlife manager with Idaho Fish and Game, emphasized the project’s dual benefits for both human and wildlife safety. “This project is equally important to both ITD and Idaho Fish and Game and has received broad support from the Bear Lake County community because of the benefits to both human and wildlife safety,” Lockyer said.
Lockyer also noted the broader economic value of protecting the mule deer population. “Hunters and other wildlife enthusiasts value this mule deer resource, and protecting it has added benefits to both the economy and quality of life in this part of southeast Idaho,” he said.
ITD District 5 environmental planner Alissa Salmore highlighted the long wait local residents have endured for a solution. “Local citizens and our Montpelier shed crew have been asking for a solution here for decades,” Salmore said. “It will be good to finally deliver this project, both for people and for wildlife.”
Zoom Out
The funding for Idaho’s project comes through the Federal Highway Administration’s Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program, which distributed $125 million in federal grants across 16 states. The program reflects a growing national effort to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions, which cause thousands of accidents annually and result in significant costs to motorists, insurance systems, and wildlife populations alike.
For southeast Idaho specifically, the mule deer migration corridor at Rocky Point represents a regionally important wildlife resource. Protecting that corridor has economic implications for hunting, tourism, and rural communities that depend on healthy wildlife populations. As federal budget discussions continue in Washington, infrastructure projects like this one — already funded and underway — represent a tangible return of federal dollars to rural Idaho communities.
The Bear Lake County area, situated near the Wyoming border in a region defined by wide-open landscapes and significant wildlife migration, is especially dependent on practical infrastructure solutions that balance transportation needs with resource conservation.
What’s Next
Construction is expected to get underway this month, with ITD leading project oversight. Idaho Fish and Game will remain involved given the wildlife management dimensions of the effort. Residents and travelers along US 30 between Montpelier and the Wyoming border should anticipate construction activity along the corridor through the fall.
If the project proceeds on schedule, the completed underpasses and fencing system should be in place before the peak of the fall mule deer migration season. Local hunters, ranchers, and commuters who have navigated Rocky Point for years are expected to see measurable improvements in both wildlife survival and roadway safety once the infrastructure is operational.
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