UPDATE:
The construction of a series of big-game underpasses through a seven-mile stretch just east of Fort Garland and onto La Veta Pass will begin Monday, March 3, according to the latest on the project from CDOT and its contracting partner Capital Paving and Construction.
“US 160 traverses an important wildlife habitat at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. In particular, elk and mule deer herds cross the highway during their winter and summer migration seasons,” said CDOT Regional Transportation Manager Julie Constan. “This project will improve both wildlife and motorist safety while maintaining and fostering habitat connectivity.”
Motorists and area residents can expect the following impacts:
- Periodic single-lane alternating traffic guided by flagging personnel
- Delays up to 15 minutes
- Narrowed lanes, 11-foot width restrictions and reduced shoulder
- Reduced speeds in the work zone
- Work will take place during daylight hours, Monday through Friday
- Construction schedules are weather-dependent and subject to change
Original story:
Colorado Department of Transportation and its contracting partner Capital Paving and Construction will begin construction in March on a series of big-game underpasses through a seven-mile stretch just east of Fort Garland and onto La Veta Pass.
The state transportation agency sent notice Thursday that the construction project will begin in mid-March, weather permitting. The $9 million project will construct wildlife mitigation features including three wildlife underpasses, high deer fencing with earthen escape jumpouts, and deer guards or gates at access points. Intersection improvements will also be constructed at Trinchera Ranch Road. The project is expected to last for 8 months, over two construction seasons.
Alamosa Citizen interviewed Colorado Department of Transportation biologist Mark Lawler about the project back in May of 2023. Lawler explained the features of the project and the efforts to create safe highway crossings for big game.
“We’ll start there on the eastern edge with our exclusion fence, which is our eight-foot-tall fence, for 6.9 miles to the east. So it’ll stretch all the way across that kind of sage brush shrub right before US 160 drops down to Sangre de Cristo Creek, so that’s 6.9 miles. We can call it seven. And within that span of seven miles of fence, we’ll put in three large-game crossing structures,” Lawler said.
Read the full interview here.
The official name of the project from CDOT is the US 160 Fort Garland East Safety Mitigation project.