GOLDEN, Colo. -- The Colorado Department of Transportation is trying to teach animals where to cross a busy highway.

It may sound crazy to some people, but the effort appears to be working in Golden.

CDOT has installed an 8-foot-tall deer fence along a 2.5-mile stretch of West Sixth Avenue between Heritage Road and 19th Street.

The fence has a single opening that funnels animals to a deer crossing.

Infrared sensors detect when an animal enters the right of way. The sensors then activate flashing lights to warn motorists that an animal or animals may be present.

Jagged rocks placed in the barrow pit from the fence to the shoulder keep the animals from wandering parallel to the highway. And painted strips that mimic cattle guards keep the deer and elk from moving out of the crossing and on to the rest of the pavement.

The project has the support of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association.

“For years, you just had deer crossing signs,” said RMIIA spokeswoman Carole Walker. “Now, we’re using technology to try to address the problem.”

On Tuesday, the Golden Police Department, which is partnering with CDOT in the project, offered evidence that it’s working.

“We have seen a noticeable change since those fences went up,” said Capt. Daryl Hollingsworth.

Hollingsworth said that last year, the city recorded 18 accidents involving animals and vehicles on that stretch of roadway.

“So far this year,” Hollingsworth said, “we’ve only seen one.”

Walker said that animal-vehicle collisions are a big problem.

“Nationwide, we see about 200 fatalities a year,” she said. “It costs nearly a billion dollars a year for claims.”

When told of Golden’s experience, Walker said, “When you see a significant drop like that, it is clear evidence that it is having an impact.”

Walker said the overall project still has to be evaluated to see if it’s worth trying to duplicate elsewhere, but she said it’s a step in trying to cut down the number of accidents and fatalities and may reduce insurance rates in the long run.

The $500,000 project has been funded by a grant from the federal government.

It includes 56 roadside reflectors and 20 audible-warning devices that animals can hear, but humans can’t.

The reflectors and audible warnings are intended to keep animals from entering the right of way when cars are approaching.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety estimates that on average, if you hit a deer, it will cause $3,100 in damage to your car.