PHOENIX, June 24 (UPI) -- Wildlife officials in Arizona say a $700,000 experimental electronic "elk crossing" is saving lives of the animals and humans.
About 10 miles east of the town of Payson on Arizona highway 206, motorists encounter a sign reading "Test Area, Elk Crossing, 1,500 feet," The Arizona Republic reported Friday.
If infrared cameras in the crossing have detected animals entering, an electronic sign warns, "Caution, elk detected."
A third flashing sign as motorists approach the crossing gives them time to reduce speed on the busy two-lane highway to watch for animals.
"There's only one like this in the world," said designer Richard Lapman, an engineer for the Canadian company ElectroBraid Fence Inc. that built and installed the crossing.
Before the new system was put in place, cars and elk collided an average of 12 times a year in a 3-mile stretch of Arizona 260 that includes the crossing, officials said.
Since the high-tech experiment was installed authorities have reported just one crash, the Republic reported.
Arizona is home to an estimated 35,000 elk.
