State Highway 9
Colorado State Highway 9 between Green Mountain Reservoir and the Colorado River provides a major transportation corridor for people traveling north-south between Silverthorne and Kremmling, Colorado.
Increasing traffic has contributed to over 600 reported vehicular accidents in almost 20 years, resulting in 16 people killed and 200 injured. In the last 11 years, 650 animals have been killed on this stretch of highway alone.
The State Highway 9 project improved safety conditions along this dangerous stretch of highway while maintaining habitat connectivity. The project became a reality through an unprecedented collaboration between Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Colorado Department of Transportation, Grand County, and local landowners. The final State Highway 9 project includes two wildlife overpasses and five underpasses on a 10.5-mile stretch between Kremmling and Green Mountain Reservoir, north of Silverthorne. It is comprised of multiple large crossing structures, interconnected with fencing, small animal culverts, escape ramps, deer guards, and pedestrian pass-through gates.
US 550 Colona
This highway is used to reach Telluride. An underpass was installed about 12 miles north of Ridgeway between MM 115.5 and 117.
Between 2007 and 2011, prior to construction, there were 27 wildlife-vehicle collisions in this area. From 2011 to 2015, post-construction, there were 14 wildlife-vehicle collisions.
This is an improvement of approximately 50% decrease in wildlife-vehicle collisions. Large and small mammals are using the underpass structure such as deer, fox, and raccoon.
Photo source: Rocky Mountain Wild, ECO-resolutions, CDOT, CPW