A wildlife bridge along I-25 is drawing attention for a reported drop in animal-vehicle collisions. The more immediate local question is what Colorado plans for the animals crossing I-70 at Vail Pass.
The Colorado Sun reported that officials recorded two animal collisions in roughly 10 months after the Greenland wildlife overpass and its connected underpasses and fencing opened, a reported 91% decline. That is an early result for a specific stretch of I-25, not evidence that collisions have fallen on Vail Pass.
Two different Vail Pass efforts are easy to confuse. On the west side, between East Vail and the pass summit, CDOT says crews are finishing six wildlife underpasses and associated fencing as part of its West Vail Pass improvement project. Two underpasses are designed for large animals and four for small to medium-sized wildlife.
On the east side of the pass, toward Copper Mountain, planners have proposed one overpass and two underpasses. CDOT’s 2026 project listing describes three structures along westbound I-70 and wildlife fencing. A project feasibility study explains that existing eastbound bridges already offer some passage, while the westbound lanes are a barrier. These are planned structures, not finished crossings.
The design combines safe routes with fencing that guides animals toward them. For drivers, the hoped-for benefit is fewer unexpected animals in traffic. Whether the local work delivers that result will require before-and-after collision data over time.
What to watch next: CDOT’s construction schedule, how the east- and west-side projects connect, and the collision numbers used to judge success. Until then, drivers should remain alert for wildlife, especially near dawn and dusk.
Image credit: Concept illustration: A wildlife overpass and underpass designed to help animals cross mountain highways safely. AI-generated image for illustrative purposes only; it does not depict an existing or completed structure on I-70 or Vail Pass.
