Merkley, Wyden Unlock Critical Federal Funding for I-5 Wildlife Crossing in Southern Oregon

Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that, thanks to their efforts, the Trump Administration has released critical federal funds for the Mariposa Preserve Wildlife Crossing over I-5 in Southern Oregon through the heart of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument.

Earlier this month at a Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee hearing reviewing the Fiscal Year 2027 budget request for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Merkley pressed FHWA Administrator Sean McMaster about the status of federal funding for the I-5 wildlife crossing. FHWA oversees the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program, which had previously awarded $33,182,188 in federal funding to this project.

"This project finally moving forward is a huge victory. Thanks to the efforts of state and local partners, we held the Trump Administration accountable to deliver on the promise of the first-ever I-5 wildlife crossing in Oregon," said Merkley, a senior member of the Senate EPW Committee. "This project will be instrumental in safeguarding all the special species that call the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument home and protecting drivers from dangerous wildlife collisions. I'll continue to champion smart federal investments that protect families, our natural treasures, and the diverse wildlife that call them home."

"This wildlife crossing over I-5 will prove a big win for protecting animals native to southern Oregon and for making travel much safer for motorists driving the interstate just north of the California line," said Wyden. "I'm glad the teamwork with Senator Merkley as well as state and local officials has secured federal investment in this proven safety practice. And I'll keep battling for similar investments that build on what will be our state's first I-5 wildlife crossing."

"We believe a wildlife crossing over Interstate 5 will improve safety for motorists while protecting wildlife," said Lisa Sumption, ODOT Interim Director. "This project would not be possible without the dedication of our partners whose expertise across many disciplines helped us develop a solid plan."

"The Southern Oregon Wildlife Crossing Coalition, a group of 17 organizations and agencies, has been working with Oregon Department of Transportation on planning for the Mariposa Wildlife Crossing project for five years. ODOT's tenacity in negotiating and finalizing the Federal Highway Administration contract for the 2024 Wildlife Crossing Pilot Project's $33 million award is a critical step in the journey to assure planning and construction of the bridge and fencing are complete by 2028. We cannot say thank you enough to Senator Merkley and Senator Wyden for being champions of this project at the federal level and for always putting Oregon's environment and public driving safety first. By working together at the local, state and federal levels, we are moving the project forward," said Amy Amrhein, Co-Coordinator for Southern Oregon Wildlife Crossing Coalition.

"This is a win not only for wildlife and driver safety, but also for the educational opportunities it will provide to Southern Oregon University (SOU) students. SOU has been studying wildlife along I-5 for four years now to assist in planning this overpass. We thank Senator Merkley and Senator Wyden for their work to secure this funding. We at SOU look forward to continuing our research to document the animals that use this wildlife overpass and share that information with the public," said Dr. Karen Mager, Associate Professor at Southern Oregon University.

The Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument protects a wealth of biodiversity and connectivity for wildlife-including deer, bear, elk, cougars, and many small animals-which all face great risk as I-5 passes through this monument. Once complete, the I-5 wildlife crossing will be among the largest in the nation and significantly improve the movement of a wide-array of animals, while increasing the safety of drivers traveling on I-5 between Ashland and the California border. The overcrossing, which will be located at approximately milepost 1.7 within the monument, will reconstruct a previously naturally occurring wildlife corridor to increase habitat connectivity and allow the animals to adapt to changing climate conditions.

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