Work to install nearly 25 kilometres of new fencing along the Coquihalla Highway, south of Merritt, will get underway next week.

The province says it will cost about $1.2-million, and the goal is to keep travellers and wildlife safe along both sides of Highway 5. The new fences will start at Comstock Road and run south until it connects with existing fences.

“Our government is committed to a safe, reliable and efficient transportation system, as well as supporting wildlife in their natural ecosystems,” said Transport Claire Trevena, in a statement. “I am pleased to see this addition to our wildlife-exclusion system, reducing wildlife-related accidents to protect people and wildlife from harm.”

The province says on average, there are about 160 wildlife-related vehicle accidents each year on the Coquihalla – about three-quarters of which are with deer. The new fences are four feet higher than the existing livestock fencing, which will help block larger animals like deer, moose, and elk from provincial highways, instead redirecting the animals to existing wildlife underpasses.

“This is an importation corridor not only for our community but for the entire province,” added Merritt mayor Linda Brown, in a statement. “It comes at a key time with higher numbers of guests visiting our beautiful region each year.”

The work – by Progressive Fence Installations of Langley – is not expected to lead to any traffic delays, though people are being told to check Drive BC for the latest updates.

“Every year in B.C., wildlife-vehicle collisions cost society millions of dollars and can have major impacts on wildlife populations,” said Candace Batycki, program director (B.C. and Yukon), Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative.

“Wildlife-exclusion fencing combined with road crossing infrastructure is a proven solution for people and wildlife, and we commend the ministry on expanding its exclusion-fencing system.”