The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is designing improvements to enhance the passage of wildlife across SR 29 near Owl Hammock in Collier County. Following a wildlife crossing location evaluation of a 2.05-mile segment of SR 29, the preferred design will include a wildlife bridge over the Barron River Canal and a dry culvert crossing under SR 29 located approximately 1200 feet north of the existing bridge at Gator Slough. This location aligns with recent panther and black bear vehicle collisions. The existing SR 29 will be elevated and constructed over the culvert, raising the existing roadway by approximately 8 feet. This elevation change will require shoulder gutter and guardrail to capture runoff and protect drop off conditions. Approximately two miles of wildlife fencing will be constructed to help guide wildlife to the wildlife crossing. 

To determine the location for the wildlife crossing, FDOT conducted an evaluation of multiple locations. This segment was chosen as the Owl Hammock area is mapped as two Hot Spot areas by the Southwest Florida Roads Panther Hot Spots Mapping Report (PRIT Transportation Subteam, 2020). Hot Spots are assigned to road segments in which multiple panther-vehicle collisions have occurred in clusters. Within this evaluation segment, nine fatal panther-vehicle collisions have occurred.