The King County Road Services Division will hold an open house Thursday to share plans for an elevated wildlife crossing over Northeast Novelty Road.

The crossing, to be built at the edge of the Redmond Watershed Preserve, will protect motorists and wildlife from serious vehicle-animal collisions.

The growth of neighboring developments combined with increasing traffic moving at speeds of up to 45 miles per hour along Northeast Novelty Hill Road make this area particularly vulnerable to animal-vehicle collisions, which can have deadly consequences for motorists.

The project, primarily funded by federal grants, will build a concrete overpass over Northeast Novelty Hill Road between Redmond Ridge Drive Northeast and 234th Place Northeast. Soil, native vegetation and other features will be added to encourage animals to use the overpass and fencing will discourage them from crossing Northeast Novelty Hill Road at street level.

The project will begin late this year and construction is expected to take about a year.

The open house will be Thursday from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Redmond Ridge Community Center, 10315 Cedar Park Crescent N.E. in Redmond Ridge.