WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) welcomed $6,372,354 from the Infrastructure Law — legislation passed by Democrats in the N.M. Congressional Delegation — for the Pueblo of Santa Ana to design wildlife corridors complete with wildlife exclusion fencing, overpasses, and underpasses, along 7.6 miles of US-550 and 19 miles of Interstate-25.
Building overpasses and underpasses specifically designed to give animals a place to cross busy highways has proven to be an effective way to reduce dangerous vehicle-wildlife collisions.
This investment is funded through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program, which was secured by Heinrich in the Infrastructure Law.
“Building wildlife crossings is about saving lives and reducing the risk of dangerous vehicle collisions in New Mexico and across the country. That’s why I worked so hard to establish the first-of-its-kind $350 million Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program in the Infrastructure Law, and why I am so thrilled to now see my program delivering this funding into New Mexico,” said Heinrich. “When we hosted Secretary Buttigieg in New Mexico last April, I was confident we’d made an impression. Now, the great work being done by Santa Ana Pueblo can expand — making New Mexicans and our wildlife safer.”
“Wildlife crossings are critical for public safety and wildlife preservation. I’m proud to welcome $6.4 million in funding for wildlife crossings in Santa Ana Pueblo through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, that I helped pass” said Luján. “This crucial funding will help reduce vehicle collisions, protect wildlife, and promote conservation efforts."
“Wildlife crossings save lives — protecting drivers from dangerous collisions and making sure animals can move safely through their natural habitats. This funding is a testament to the transformative impact of the Infrastructure Law — which Democrats passed, and President Biden signed into law to address safety and conservation in ways that benefit our communities and environment. These investments honor our responsibility to protect the ecosystems that sustain us while making our roads safer for everyone who travels them,” said Leger Fernández.
In April 2023, Heinrich welcomed U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to New Mexico, where they visited a culvert under a busy stretch of I-25 for drivers commuting between Albuquerque and Santa Fe. This is also the middle of a very busy wildlife corridor between the Sandias and the Jemez. The Pueblo of Santa Ana has installed cameras in this culvert that have seen animals use this safer way to get under — rather than through — all the lanes of traffic on the Interstate.
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