The N.C. Department of Transportation began studying this corridor in 1999, including the need for wildlife crossings. From 2012 to 2014, state and federal agencies worked together to identify the best locations, structure types, and fencing strategies but the roadway widening projects that would have included these crossings were never funded.
Since then, additional studies have reinforced the need for action. Multiple research efforts have tracked wildlife movements, collisions and use of existing underpasses. A 2023 assessment by the Western Transportation Institute, funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, identified the section of U.S. 64 through the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge as a major collision hotspot—especially for the endangered red wolf. The report recommended immediate installation of wildlife fencing paired with crossing structures to improve safety and maintain habitat connectivity.
Partnerships are formed
In 2023, NCDOT and the Wildlife Resources Commission strengthened their partnership through a Wildlife Stewardship Memorandum of Understanding. Around the same time, the Federal Highway Administration launched the Wildlife Crossing Pilot Program, making wildlife‑vehicle collision reduction a national priority. These efforts positioned NCDOT to secure Wildlife Crossing Pilot Program funding in 2025 and advance long‑planned safety improvements.
NCDOT continues to work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Red Wolf Recovery Program on interim safety measures such as message boards, quicker roadkill removal, and permanent warning signs. After receiving WCPP funding, the project was added to the 2026–2035 State Transportation Improvement Program.