The largest wildlife overpass has opened in Colorado, North America, following a $15million (£11million) project. The Greenland overpass crosses the Interstate 25, a remote but busy road located between Denver and Colorado Springs.

The crossing connects 39,000 acres of wildlife habitats and will allow elk, mule deer, black bears, mountain lions and other animals to safely cross over six lanes of traffic. The bridge aims to reduce animal-related crashes. Colorado transportation officials reported that around 100,000 vehicles travel through the remote area each day.

The overpass is the largest bridge structure built specifically for wildlife, measuring 200 feet wide and 209 feet long.

The Colorado Department of Transportation Executive Director Shoshana Lew said: "The I-25 Greenland wildlife overpass is critical to the safety of both wildlife and motorists.

"The overpass is an essential component of the wildlife crossing system in this area, which is expected to reduce wildlife-vehicle crashes by 90%."

The Arizona Game and Fish Departmentsaid that animals will know how to use the wildlife crossing because of "exclusionary fencing".

"This is a strip of tall fencing that stops animals trying to cross the road and guides them to the overpass instead.

"Data collection from similar projects here in Arizona has shown that once animals learn to use the wildlife crossing, they pass that knowledge down to the next generation."