Proposed wildlife crossings on Interstate 70 near Summit County receive grant support

A project to build a wildlife crossing along Interstate 70 near east Vail Pass will advance toward final design after the project received a $450,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Summit County government and the nonprofit Summit County Safe Passage said in a joint news release Wednesday, May 22, that funds from the RESTORE 2024 grant program will help a project along a stretch of highway which many animals do not dare to cross.

A 2020 study initially identified the need for more wildlife crossing infrastructure along the eastern Vail Pass section of I-70 and recommended two wildlife underpasses and an overpass between Copper Mountain and Vail Pass, the release said.

Currently, there are large bridges under the eastbound lanes, but wildlife seeking to access their habitat on both sides of the highway crosses the westbound lanes at ground level. Due to the high volume of traffic, few animals attempt these crossings, and those that do risk being struck by passing vehicles, according to the release.

The two identified underpasses and one overpass would allow wildlife, including elk, deer, moose, black bear and Canada lynx, to safely cross I-70 in the area.

In 2022, the Colorado Department of Transportation hired a team of consultants to begin engineering design, following completion of the feasibility study, which was undertaken with funding from Vail Resorts, Arapahoe Basin Ski Area and the Center for Large Landscape Conservation, the release said.

The grant mix is ​​supplemented by $275,000 from the Colorado Safe Passages Fund, according to the press release. The total project cost for design and construction is estimated at $32 million.

Summit County Commissioner Nina Waters said in a statement that “this is an important highway improvement strategy to be implemented right in our backyard. This will protect our beloved wildlife populations and improve motorist safety on the I-70 Mountain Corridor.