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Commissioners discuss Highway 40 safety, passing lanes and wildlife crossing priorities
Summary
Commissioners and staff discussed Highway 40 safety concerns, passing‑lane priorities and a new Nature Conservancy convening on wildlife crossings and corridors; the county submitted wildlife crossings to the TPR priority list as a placeholder across a broad corridor.
Routt County commissioners discussed safety on Highway 40 at their Jan. 13 meeting, focusing on fatalities, passing‑lane prioritization and wildlife‑crossing planning. Commissioners said passing lanes are a TPR prioritization item but noted that construction timelines are slow and that adding lanes does not always resolve congestion.
Commissioner Redmond said local residents and HOA groups have raised questions about how the county will address school crossing and underpass needs if a Raise grant is not awarded. She said county representatives expect to send letters highlighting unacceptable fatality rates on Highway 40 and to press for faster action.
County staff and commissioners also described a Nature Conservancy meeting convened to study wildlife crossings and corridors. Redmond said the county submitted wildlife crossings as a TPR priority and that CDOT left location prioritization open; the county’s entry can act as a placeholder spanning from Rabbit Ears Pass to Craig for commuter safety and wildlife connectivity.
Why it matters: Highway 40 is a major regional corridor with safety and wildlife‑mortality concerns; prioritization and funding decisions will affect potential infrastructure investments and conservation mitigation.
Next steps: County representatives will pursue TPR and CDOT prioritization, coordinate letters and stakeholder outreach about fatalities and continuing discussions with the Nature Conservancy and potential funders for crossing structures.
