OSBURN, Idaho – For 60 years, an abandoned overpass ran above the I-90 in the small town of Osburn. Now, Idaho Fish and Game has restored the bridge, giving humans and animals a safe way to cross the busy I-90 freeway.
According to Fish and Game, the paved bridge fell into disarray after a mining development on the north side of the freeway blocked access to its frontage road.
This caused issues for animals in the surrounding wildlife.
When creatures and critters in the area would travel from one side of the freeway to the other, they would cross the road instead of using the abandoned bridge.
Idaho Fish and Game wrote that because of this, nearly 75 animals were hit by cars within two miles of the abandoned bridge.
Carl Wilson, a local truck driver and outdoorsman, led the charge to convert the old bridge into a wildlife overpass in an attempt to address this problem, wrote Idaho Fish and Wildlife.
Although Wilson passed away in December 2022, another Silver Valley resident and civil engineer named Kirsten Voorhees carried on his efforts.
“Carl’s vision is the story. He cared deeply, and he convinced others in the community to care as well. He found and brought together the people who could make it happen—and that led to action. Our community wants him to receive credit for this project and to be remembered for it,” said Voorhees.
Fish and Game started the project in 2021 and worked alongside Osburn residents to secure grants and create wildlife funnel fencing along the bridge. The design they came up with incorporated I-90 bridges across the South Fork of the Coeur d’Alene river.
The project was completed in August 2025.
“The funnel fencing is working well to keep animals safe as they move through their habitat. Cameras on the structures already show deer regularly using the underpass,” said Laura Wolf, regional wildlife biologist with Fish and Game.
Eric Greenwell, senior land connectivity manager with the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, added, “This project is a great win for people and wildlife. It’s about a community coming together in their own backyard to keep people and wildlife safe along this interstate corridor. The people of Osburn led the charge, they found the right partners to get the job done, and we’re happy they asked us to be one of those partners to support their creative vision.”
The project was funded by grants and cost about $600,000. According to Fish and Game, this cost was significantly cheaper than the $5-6 million that is usually required for new overpass construction.
Fish and Game said they will continue to monitor wildlife use of the new crossings and track collision for the years ahead.
To read more about the project, read Idaho Fish and Game’s release about it HERE.
