Safe Passage

The I-40 Pigeon River Gorge Wildlife Crossing Project

Blog

NCDOT crews engage in preliminary road work ahead of the final plan's release and implementation.

Word from the Smokies: I-40 rebuild to affect wildlife for decades

January 27, 2026
The planned wall would be a loss for wildlife that can’t be replaced by improvements elsewhere, Safe Passage advocates say, maintaining...
Read more.
A pre-Helene aerial view shows I-40’s winding path through the rugged Pigeon River Gorge.

Word from the Smokies: Plans for rebuilding I-40 spur concern for wildlife

January 17, 2026
In the first project of its kind in North Carolina, NCDOT plans to use roller-compacted concrete to build an enormous wall—20–30...
Read more.

2025 wins and next steps for wildlife crossings

December 17, 2025
A wildlife crossings update from Safe Passage: Cheers to an active 2025, plus more ways you can help in 2026.
Read more.

Road ecologists study the intersection of transportation and the wild

October 15, 2025
Roads and ecology seem to be at opposing ends of the environmental spectrum. How can roads be ecological?
Read more.

I-40 rebuild offers rare opportunity for wildlife conservation

February 19, 2025
Please note: Since this story published in November 2024, North Carolina Governor Josh Stein announced that two lanes of Interstate 40...
Read more.