The Ministry of Transportation expects they'll be fewer motorist run-ins with wildlife on Highway 69/400 once a wildlife crossing is completed this summer.

The $3 million “eco-passage” will span the new four-lane alignment near the future Highway 637 interchange, 35 kilometres south of Sudbury. The construction is art of the larger multi-billion-dollar highway four-laning project between Sudbury and Parry Sound.

The 30-metre-wide wildlife crossing resembles a roadway overpass and will be landscaped to resemble the surrounding environment with brush piles to provide animal cover and noise-deadening barriers from oncoming vehicles.

Highway fencing will funnel wildlife toward the crossing.

The cost of the concrete structure is included in the $58.3 million contract awarded to Aecon Construction and Materials for the 13-kilometre section of new highway in the Estaire area.

The area is known for vehicle collisions with moose, deer, elk and black bears.

In an interview with Sudbury Living, a sister publication of Northern Ontario Business, MTO spokesman Adrian Sgoifo said it is the first wildlife bridge to be constructed east of Alberta.