Colorado spends $15,000,000 on bizarre 41,000 square foot structure above major roadway

The state of Colorado just spent $15,000,000 on a 41,000-square-foot overpass above the I-25 Interstate.

But it turns out that there is actually a very good reason behind it.

Colorado’s Department of Transportation (CDOT) revealed the project just before the holidays.

And there is actually some very good thinking behind the roadway project.

DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie

Colorado builds massive overpass across I-25

Okay – so what exactly has Colorado done that is so surprising?

Just before the holidays, state authorities announced a surprising new project.

The build, named the I-25 Greenland Wildlife Overpass project, has been completed.

And the name indicates the reasoning behind the structure.

Colorado has crafted this structure in order to protect wildlife in the area.

The overpass can be found near the municipality of Larkspur, Douglas County, off Interstate 25 in Colorado.

It connects 39,000 acres of land and habitat on both sides of the freeway between Larkspur and Monument.

Of course, nobody chooses to build such a large project in this area for no reason.

In fact, the CDOT said black bears, mountain lions, elk, and other species are prominent in the area.

These animals should be able to cross the overpass without endangering drivers.

The CDOT expects this overpass to reduce wildlife-related vehicle collisions by 90 percent.

Wildlife structure is the largest of its kind in the US

So, what is the background to the project itself?

The project itself cost $15,000,000 and was largely funded by a federal grant.

Interestingly, the CDOT noted that the project ‘was completed in less than a year, ahead of schedule, and on budget’.

But the creation of the overpass was part of a wider environmental initiative.

The overall initiative for Colorado focused exclusively on the I-25.

Alongside fencing, the crossing is now the largest wildlife Interstate crossing in the United States.

The overpass structure itself is 200 feet wide and 209 feet long.

This is because it spans across six lanes of the Interstate.

In total, the overpass covers more than 41,800 square feet of habitat.

It is supported by 76 girders and is covered by vegetation and dirt.