Wildlife escape ramp along Interstate 70 near Eagle, Colorado

Interstate Highway 70 runs east-and-west from one side of Colorado to the other - crossing through Denver, over the Continental Divide, cresting over Vail Pass, and then continuing on through Grand Junction before going into eastern Utah. Unfortunately I-70 (as it's commonly referred to) dissects and blocks many wildlife migratory routes in Colorado's Rocky Mountains - killing thousands of animals (and a few humans) each year [Department of Transportation statistics indicate that there were 30,245 reported animal/vehicle collisions between 1995 and 2005 state-wide. 29 People died in such collisions between 1993 and 2004 with another 2,241 people being injured].

So, it looks like these wildlife escape ramps are being strategically placed along I-70 between Vail and Grand Junction [according to my unscientific survey conducted each weekend when I drive that route...] in an effort to save wildlife and reduce collisions. Over the years there have been many efforts to construct a large wildlife "Overpass" in a section most heavily crossed by wildlife. Unfortunately funding seems to come and go so we're still waiting for final approval...

This particular escape ramp was recorded by me at mile marker 164 - just over 100 miles (161 kilometres) west of Denver, Colorado near the town of Eagle.

Here's my personal web page about animals and wildlife that contains some still-photographs of the same escape ramp:
http://www.rogerwendell.com/animals.html

Here's my page about transportation issues:
http://www.rogerwendell.com/transporation.html

11-07-2009

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• wildlife
• escape
• ramp
• interstate
• highway
• 70
• eagle
• colorado
• rocky
• mountains
• animals
• migration
• corridor
• route

[habbadou]

Weird... I don't get it.

[zeekzilch]

It's designed so that wildlife can't make their way onto the freeway. However, if an animal happens to be on the freeway they'll follow the fence-line until they run into this device where they can jump off.

[unisynmusic]

@habbadou: It's a one way device. Animals don't jump up on the backside of the ramp, but can jump down from the freeway side where it will then be trapped on the backside.