Latest news with #CDOT
Forbes
4 days ago
- Forbes
Colorado Innovates Wildlife Crossing System To Deter Crashes
Colorado Department of Transportation staff views remote camera photos of wildlife crossing under a ... More highway structure. As Colorado leaders recently toured a half-way point on building a massive overpass wildlife crossing above Interstate 25, state police were warning drivers about the dangers of crashing into animals after two recent fatalities. U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet (D) joined with state officials recently to see what is billed as among the world's largest wildlife crossing built over a major highway. Located in Douglas County, the Colorado Department of Transportation is managing the project called the I-25 Greenland Wildlife Overpass. The goal is to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions with such big game as elk, pronghorn and mule deer by creating a six-lane-wide overpass. The location is where large movements of big game animals occur. Bennet commented July 25 in a social media post about his visit to the Greenland Wildlife Overpass project: 'Colorado continues to be a model for the rest of the Western United States. By building the largest wildlife overpass in the U.S., we are protecting wildlife and keeping Colorado drivers safe.' Rendering of the wildlife overpass above I-25. The overpass was designed with wide sloped entrances that gradually rise above the highway to appeal to big game. Elk prefer traveling in wide open areas and avoid tunnels and underpasses. The $15-million wildlife overpass is expected to reduce wildlife/vehicle collisions by 90% on I-25. After completion slated for December, the structure will compliment an existing I-25 wildlife crossing system of underpasses and fences and connect 39,000 acres of habitat on both sides of the interstate. Images of wildlife using Colorado's wildlife crossing underpasses. The 200-foot-wide, 209-foot-long overpass will link into the state's current 18-mile wildlife crossing mitigation system called the I-25 South Gap project. This area is between Denver and Colorado Springs. Before Colorado created its wildlife crossing mitigation system, drivers along that stretch of I-25 crashed into an average of one wild animal per day trying to pass through the highway corridor. Each day some 87,000 motorists drive on that 18-mile section of I-25 just south of the Denver metropolitan region. With abundant animals and people living among its mountain areas, Colorado sees about 4,000 wildlife-vehicle crashes yearly that cause $80 million in damages. These accidents also result in injuries and fatalities to people and wildlife. Wildlife killed include moose, deer, black bears, elk, mountain lions, raccoons, hawks, coyotes, porcupines, red foxes, bobcats, owls, rabbits, Canadian geese, beavers and badgers. Although the new overpass is mainly meant for larger animals it will likely be used by other wildlife as has been the case with Colorado's wildlife underpasses. Animal footprints at a Colorado wildlife crossing. A variety of animals have been seen on cameras using the underpasses, including wild turkeys. Colorado State Patrol have held a summer public awareness campaign about wildlife-vehicle crashes to deter collisions. Already this year through July 17, state troopers have responded to 1,600 animal-involved crashes causing property damage in 95% of the accidents. In these collisions, 63 people sustained injuries and two died. Shortly before midnight on July 11, a driver collided with a moose before three other vehicles hit the animal. One of the drivers lost control of the vehicle and died. Then on July 20 just before 6 a.m., a motorist swerved to avoid crashing into a deer and veered off the road. The vehicle rolled and the driver was fatally injured. 'Drivers in the mountain communities know to expect wildlife, but these animals can show up in more unexpected locations everywhere in our state,' Col. Matthew Packard, state patrol chief, noted in a press statement. The Colorado State Patrol has determined the third most common factor in all vehicle crashes last year were wildlife collisions. In 2024, troopers investigated 3,573 of these wildlife-vehicle crashes. Statistics showed 96% of those crashes last year resulted in damaged vehicles, while the majority of the injured wildlife died. 'According to the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association, the insurance industry pays nearly $1.1 billion yearly in claims for all wildlife collisions nationwide. The average property damage cost of these crashes is estimated at over $3,000,' Colorado State Patrol says. Colorado troopers have listed steps drivers can take to mitigate accidents with wildlife. They suggest motorists: When encountering wildlife while driving on a roadway, police say the most important advice is to maintain control of your vehicle.
CBS News
4 days ago
- Automotive
- CBS News
Colorado construction crews build wildlife overpass over I-25 in Douglas County
Colorado construction crews are building a wildlife overpass over I-25 in Douglas County. The overpass is being built by the Colorado Department of Transportation in collaboration with the Federal Highway Administration, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Douglas County and other partners. The overpass will cross I-25 near the Greenland Interchange between Larkspur and Monument. According to CDOT, the overpass will be one of the largest wildlife overpass structures in the U.S. It's being built for big game animals such as elk, mule deer and pronghorn. CDOT officials said the overpass is located to address the nearly 4-mile gap from other wildlife crossings and will complete the wildlife crossing system of underpasses and fencing as part of the I-25 South Gap project, which spans 18 miles of I-25 from Castle Rock to Monument. Sen. Michael Bennet was at the construction site and said the project was made possible because of the infrastructure bill passed during the Biden administration. "I can think of many projects between here and across Floyd Hill and to Southwest Colorado where we see the money from that bill at work, and it's a reminder of what happens when America invests in America again," said Bennet. The overpass will span six lanes of traffic on I-25, connecting 39,000 acres of habitat on both sides of I-25. The final bridge structure will measure 204 feet wide and will be constructed to invite wildlife to use the crossing. Transportation officials said while smaller animals will use an underpass, bigger game prefer the wide open space of an overpass. Smaller animals have also been known to use the overpass, as well. According to CDOT, the overpass is expected to reduce wildlife-vehicle crashes along that stretch of I-25 by 90%. Before the overpass, transportation officials said there was an average of one wildlife-vehicle crash a day along that corridor. The project costs $15 million and is expected to be completed by December, according to CDOT's website.
CBS News
22-07-2025
- CBS News
New bicycle safety signs around Denver's Wash Park aim to stop crashes, deaths
The Colorado Department of Transportation placed new safety signs around Washington Park in Denver to make it safer for bicyclists. CDOT said 79 bicyclists have been killed over the last five years across the state. One more bicyclist was killed Monday night in Denver in a hit-and-run. CDOT says they placed the signs around Washington Park because it is one of the most active parks in Colorado. Hundreds of bicyclists, walkers and roller skaters use the park each and every day. CDOT hopes to expand to other parks in the future. CDOT says the main reason Colorado is seeing so many bicyclists getting killed on the roadways is because of drivers failing to yield to bicyclists. There are two big rules to remember. First, bicyclists do not have to be at a complete stop at a stop sign. Bicyclists do stop at a stop light, but once it is clear, they can go through it, even if it is red. The second, when drivers are passing a bicyclist, they must leave three feet between them. CDOT says if both of these rules are followed, it can help lessen the tensions they are seeing between drivers and bicyclists. "Traffic deaths are entirely preventable on our roadways, especially when it comes to our bicyclists," said Sam Cole, Traffic Safety Manager with CDOT. "Bicyclists are only going five, 10, to even 20 mph at a time. You, as a driver, are driving 30 to 40 mph in a two-ton machine. You have extra responsibility to use caution around bicyclists." CDOT says this is the first time they have launched a campaign focused on bicyclist safety. Their hope is to do this annually around the summer. CDOT is reminding bicyclists not to ride around with headphones on so they can hear their surroundings. Also, bicyclists should have reflective coverings on their bicycles, wear reflective clothes, and have lights when riding at night.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Speed cameras in place along Highway 119 construction zone
BOULDER, Colo. (KDVR) — Six new speed cameras are now in place and ready to go along the construction zone on Highway 119 between Boulder and Longmont. The Colorado Department of Transportation announced the activation of the Colorado Speed Enforcement Program on Monday. National Weather Service confirms landspout in Franktown The goal is to increase safety for work crews and drivers. A 30-day warning period for drivers will start on July 21 before $75 civil penalties go into effect in the fall. 'This program is not about punishment, it's about prevention. It's not about writing tickets, it's about changing behavior. It's about protecting lives,' said CDOT Chief of Staff Sally Chafee. CDOT reports that in 2024, work zone crashes in Colorado resulted in 567 injuries and 31 deaths. That's nearly double the deaths from the previous year. 'We've seen the numbers and want to do something about it. Speeding is one of the primary causes of some of these fatalities and serious injuries and we thought this would protect our construction workers and reduce the speeding and also increase the safety for the road users,' said CDOT Chief Engineer Keth Stefanik. He said crash history and speed studies are being used to determine the location of the cameras. Signs will be posted warning drivers. 'Our data shows that more than 60% of drivers are speeding through work zones, and 11% of those are going over 10 miles an hour over that speed limit,' said CSP Captain Shane Scovel. 'I am more here than I ever was before': Colorado Poet Laureate Andrea Gibson dies CSP says this technology can help eliminate the need for in-person traffic stops in areas that are difficult to enforce, and help reduce risk for workers and drivers. If all goes well with this program, CDOT said it will be expanded to other high-risk or construction areas. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
CBS News
20-07-2025
- CBS News
CDOT, Bicycle Colorado launch summer safety campaign amid rising cyclist fatalities
On Saturday morning, a passionate group placed dozens of brightly colored signs all around Denver's Washington Park. They want them to be visible, much like their cause: putting an end to bicycle fatalities. From 2020 to 2024, nearly half of all bicyclist fatalities in Colorado happened during summer months. It's a historically deadly time of year for cyclists. However, a new safety campaign launched by CDOT and Bicycle Colorado wants to change that statistic. It aims to educate the public through displaying signs memorializing bicyclist fatalities and explaining the "Three-Foot Law." It requires motorists to give people biking at least three feet of space, even if it means crossing a double yellow line to do so when the coast is clear. "I'll never stop advocating," said Teri Vogel, who showed up to support the new initiative. Vogel knows the pain and struggle of loss all too well. "My husband was killed by a hit-and-run driver July 4, 2019. Chuck made the world a better place. He was just an incredible human." Chuck Vogel was an avid rider and outdoor enthusiast who loved spending time with family. "He was constantly paying it forward, always in the background, but using it for good. I am his voice for him now," Teri Vogel said. "We're at one bicyclist death every month in traffic crashes," said Sam Cole, traffic safety communications manager for CDOT. "These are real lives on the line." Teri Vogel says now is the time to act, because everyone deserves to get home safely: "Every person is someone's loved one and child and didn't come home at the end of the day."
