Construction on more wildlife fencing along Highway 3 is set to begin, with drivers likely to face some delays while work is underway.
B.C. officials said two kilometres of fencing will be installed along the highway east of Sparwood, stretching from Carbon Bridge to Alexander Bridge.
The finished product is expected to cut down on animal collisions along the corridor.
According to ICBC, the southern Interior sees the most crashes between vehicles and animals out of anywhere else in the province, with an average of 5,086 per year from 2019 to 2023.
B.C. officials said the six-phase Reconnecting the Rockies project will involve a series of underpasses and overpasses connected by fencing to give wildlife a safe way to cross Highway 3.
As a result, it should drastically cut down on accidents involving animals.
“On average, 39 road kills – from grizzly bears to elk, wolverines, bighorn sheep and deer – are reported each year along a 27-kilometre stretch of Highway 3, between Hosmer and the Alberta border, although the true, unreported number is likely much higher,” said Wildsight officials.
B.C. said the project was designed with wildlife-tracking data, collision statistics and local knowledge of wildlife habits.
Wilco Contractors Southwest Inc. will begin the project this summer, with this phase expected to be wrapped up by the fall.
Work may cause some traffic disruptions along the highway, and single-lane traffic may be in place occasionally.
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