Creating a safe path for wildlife across a busy highway in California

In Riverside County, California, growing traffic volumes and expanding infrastructure created a hard divide between natural habitats, limiting wildlife movement and increasing the risk of collisions. For species moving between these areas, the highway became a barrier — and for drivers, a growing safety concern. Without intervention, these risks would continue to rise as development intensified. The Clinton Keith Road Extension addresses this directly, introducing a dedicated wildlife overpass that gives animals a safe route above the roadway. By reconnecting habitats in a high-traffic corridor, the project improves safety while supporting healthier, more connected ecosystems.

Jacobs led the planning, design and construction of the highway extension, integrating California’s first wildlife overpass alongside a range of connectivity features. We aligned the design with the Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan, incorporating bridges, culverts with natural bottoms, dry ledges, skylights and specialized fencing to guide safe wildlife movement. This multi-layered approach creates crossing opportunities for different species, improving long-term effectiveness. The result is infrastructure that works harder — reducing collision risks, supporting biodiversity and showing how transportation projects can deliver practical benefits for both communities and the environment.