Roadkill is a common sight on U.S. Highway 160. Each dead mammal also could total a vehicle or cost a driver’s life.
The Colorado Department of Transportation and with Colorado Parks and Wildlife are seeking federal funds to make U.S. Highway 160 safer from accidents caused by animal crossings. To lend a helping hand, Cortez City Council approved a letter of support in aid to CDOT’s request.
“We all know how dangerous wildlife is, especially in early morning or late evening hours along Highway 160,” said City Manager Drew Sanders.
With money from the grant, offered by the Federal Highway Administration, CDOT could build an overpass that would allow wildlife to safely cross the road, Sanders said.
City officials did not say where exactly along U.S. Highway 160 the wildlife crossings might be built and could not be reached for comment, but the grant was earmarked for a “Highway 160 Mesa Verde Wildlife Connectivity Project,” according to Sanders.
According to a 2019 study, six miles of U.S. Highway 160 north of Mesa Verde National Park were in the highest 20% of Colorado's Western Slope roads with an urgent need to lower accidents caused by wildlife collisions.
In 2024, more than 3,500 crashes in Colorado were caused by wildlife, according to Colorado State Patrol. Most crashes resulted in the animal dying.
The Federal Highway Administration says that the goal behind their competitive grant program is to reduce “Wildlife Vehicle Collisions while improving habitat connectivity for terrestrial and aquatic species.”
