Open house to detail planned wildlife crossing on Northeast Novelty Hill Road

Crossing will protect motorists and wildlife from serious collision on rural stretch of roadway

The King County Road Services Division will hold an open house from 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Thursday, April 26 at Redmond Ridge Community Center to familiarize residents with plans to construct an elevated wildlife crossing over Northeast Novelty Road in rural King County. The safety project, located at the edge of the Redmond Watershed Preserve, will protect both motorists and local wildlife species from serious vehicle-animal collisions.

The project, which is primarily funded by federal grants, will involve construction of a wildlife overpass on Northeast Novelty Hill Road between Redmond Ridge Drive Northeast and 234th Place Northeast.  In addition to construction of a concrete overpass, the project will include fencing, habitat features and the addition of native vegetation. The project will provide added safety for motorists and ensure a safer connection to the Wildlife Habitat Network designed to protect habitat and numerous animal species. The network provides wildlife throughout King County with an intricate connection to undeveloped land to ensure survival and access to habitat.

“Wildlife structures, such as the crossing being constructed over Novelty Hill Road, not only make roads safer for people and wildlife, but allow for wildlife populations to remain connected to increasingly fragmented habitat in King County,” Conservation Northwest representative Jen Watkins said.

Law enforcement agencies report numerous accidents involving wildlife and vehicles each year around the state – sometimes with deadly consequences. The growth of neighboring developments combined with increasing traffic traveling at speeds of up to 45 miles per hour along Novelty Hill Road make this part of the county particularly vulnerable to animal-vehicle collisions.

During the open house, residents will have an opportunity to learn more about the safety project and ask questions. The project will get underway late this year and is expected to take about a year to complete.

Redmond Ridge Community Center is located at 10315 Cedar Park Crescent Northeast, Redmond. For more information about the project or open house, contact Ashley DeForest at (206) 684-1154 or email her at Ashley.deforest@kingcounty.gov.