It’s been wonderful to see all the safety improvements being made to the “Jail Hill” section of Hwy 16 🙏

It’s hard not to feel like my petition - along with the support of so many others - has helped bring attention to this hazardous stretch, possibly pushing projects that may have been on the back burner to the forefront.

Just to recap:  In the last days of November last year, this stretch of Hwy saw daily - sometimes multiple daily - wildlife collisions! After one of those collisions led me to witness the suffering of a deer that had been hit by a car, I felt the need to start a petition for safety improvements.

Progress So Far:

✅ DEER WARNING SIGNS INSTALLED

On December 17, 2024, MOTI installed deer warning signs just a couple of weeks after my petition. These signs were put up to warn drivers of the frequent collisions and heightened deer activity in the area.

✅ CONCRETE MERIDIAN BARRIER INSTALLED

On March 17th, MOTI began installing a concrete meridian barrier down the stretch of Jail Hill. It will protect drivers from head-on collisions and may discourage deer from crossing as freely as they once did. While this project had been in the works for years, it definitely feels like the spotlight from our petition helped make it a top priority.

✅ BRUSH CLEARING UNDERWAY

Now, they are extensively clearing the brush along the highway, removing vegetation that was both attracting and concealing wildlife.

What’s Next?

Our one big ask is for a few additional lights to improve visibility at night. MOTI has told me that lighting is not off the table, so I’ll wait to “declare victory” on the petition when (or if) that happens.

I believe that the more signatures we continue to gather, the stronger the message will be about how much additional lighting is needed on Jail Hill.

THANK YOU to everyone for all of your support. Every effort and safety improvement has added up and made a difference in protecting drivers and wildlife on this notorious stretch. 🙏🦌❤️