CO 9 Colorado River South Wildlife & Safety Improvements
Project Complete!
About the Project
Crews on this project reconstructed an 11-mile segment of Colorado Highway (CO) 9 between Kremmling and Silverthorne. Project work, which is designed to improve safety through the corridor, included:
- installation of five wildlife underpasses and two overpasses
- wildlife fencing
- landscaping
- widening the shoulders to eight feet
Project Facts
- Cost: $40 million
- Average Annual Daily Traffic: 3,100 - 3,600
Project Team
- Contractor(s): Kirkland Construction
A black bear accesses the underpass in May 2016.
See all project images.
A doe and fawn use the overpass in June 2016.
See all project images.
A moose uses the overpass on Sept. 9, 2016.
See all project images.
Project Background
CO 9 is a major traffic route between Kremmling and Silverthorne in Summit and Grand counties. CDOT, Grand County, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and the Blue Valley Ranch partnered on this project following numerous wildlife-vehicle collisions, and human fatalities, between mile posts 126 and 137. This narrow roadway, near the Green Mountain Dam Road and Colorado River Crossing, bisects feeding and watering habitat frequently used by wildlife.
In October 2013 the State Transportation Commission selected CO 9 for RAMP funding to fast track the safety-improvement project
