The B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) this morning announced a new wildlife overpass will be constructed south of Radium Hot Springs.

The aim of the overpass is to reduce vehicle collisions with bighorn sheep, making that stretch of Highway 93/95 safer for residents and other highway users while protecting the iconic local bighorn sheep herd.

The Radium Wildlife Overpass will cross the highway near Mile Hill, a location chosen through collaboration between the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, the Ministry of Forests, the Village of Radium Hot Springs and Parks Canada, along with Teck Resources Ltd., Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, Ktunaxa Nation Council and the Shuswap Band.

The project includes approximately six kilometres of wildlife fencing and gates that will guide animals to the overpass and safely over the highway. The project will be going to tender in the coming weeks.

Construction on the project is anticipated to begin in the coming weeks.

Conservation groups say that the Radium herd is one of the last viable herds of bighorn sheep in the area. Approximately 10% of the herd is killed annually by collisions with vehicles. The population dropped from approximately 230 sheep in 2003 to 120 in 2019.

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. 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, the ministry said.

Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Doug Clovechok has been front and centre the past few years trying to solve the continued killing of bighorn sheep on Highway 93/95 and his first reaction to this announcement was: “It’s about time!”

“It has been my personal commitment as MLA to be approachable and accessible to my constituents in Columbia River-Revelstoke, to ensure that the issues I am fighting for are the issues that matter to those who live in this riding,” said Clovechok. “This announcement is important for residents, tourists, and conservationists. It means that the roads will be much safer for wildlife and travelers, which is really at the heart of this issue.”

In 2019, Clovechok met with Lake Windermere Rod and Gun Club’s Rick Hoar and Kent Kebe to discuss the alarming mortality rate of bighorn sheep due to traffic on the Radium Hill along Highway 93/95.

Clovechok spearheaded the formation of a working group of professionals and experts best suited to address this decades-old concern.

In March 2020, the group began to share their insights regarding sheep’s behaviour in and around the Village of Radium Hot Springs, as well as highway data. The group concluded that a highway overpass south of the village was the best option to reduce wildlife and vehicular conflict.

In the fall of 2020, the working group members approached their respective organizations to propose this solution. Wildlife Biologist Tony Clevenger with the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations requested and received funding for a study and report for this project. The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) assigned a 10-person design team to assist with this project. MOTI also secured funding for a geotechnical survey of the hill, creating a concept of the overpass, and researching options for a fencing system.

“This project is an example of how a MLA can work with other elected officials, volunteers, and government agencies, to get results on issues that are important to a community. It all starts with the people who care – who reach out with their concerns, and I really want to thank them for doing that,” said Clovechok.

“Both Ministries have tremendous staff who worked very hard on this file along with those who stepped forward as part of our working group. We should all be very proud that this project is going to happen due to those efforts. This is what can be accomplished when we work together towards a common goal.”

Village of Radium Hot Springs Mayor Mike Gray hailed today’s announcement.

“Bighorn sheep are iconic to the Village of Radium Hot Springs, and it is exciting to see the wildlife overpass built. 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,” he said.

Steven Guilbeault, federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada agreed.

“We get meaningful, on-the-ground results through effective collaboration between different levels of government, Indigenous partners, experts and stakeholders,” he said. “Not only will this wildlife overpass support the security of road users, it will also play a crucial role in biodiversity conservation by allowing wildlife to flow freely across large landscapes. Real actions like the building of this overpass will help maintain and restore ecological connectivity across Canada, for the benefit of diverse species and all Canadians.”

“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 Kootenay.”

Jonathan Price, CEO of Teck Resources Ltd. stated, “This project is critical to maintaining wildlife habitat connectivity, while protecting people and wildlife in the East Kootenay. Teck’s $2.5-million contribution will support bighorn sheep populations across the region and aligns with our goal of becoming nature positive by 2030.”

MLA Clovechok  wishes to thank and acknowledge the dedicated work of Lake Windermere Rod and Gun Club, Golden Rod and Gun Club, Ktunaxa Nation Council, Akisq’nuk First Nation, Shuswap Indian Band, Columbia Basin Trust, Village of Radium Hot Springs – former village mayor Clara Reinhardt, Regional District of East Kootenay past Area G Director Gerry Wilkie, Slow Your Roll Campaign – Nicole Trigg, Columbia Shuswap Regional District, District of Invermere, BC Conservation Officer Service, Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement, Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure – Hilary Barnett, Katie Ward, Ron Sharpe, RCMP and Parks Canada.

e-KNOW file photos

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