WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet and U.S. Representative Joe Neguse welcomed over $47 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for wildlife safety improvements around U.S. Highway 287 in Larimer County. The funding comes from DOT’s Wildlife Crossing Pilot Program, which was created and supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
“Wildlife crossings save lives by dramatically reducing traffic collisions with animals,” said Hickenlooper. “Infrastructure updates like these are exactly why we passed the infrastructure bill.”
“U.S. 287 helps connect communities across Northern Colorado, and historic funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will improve roadway safety while meeting the needs of Colorado’s growing population. I’m pleased to see Colorado continue to benefit from the most significant investment in America’s roads, bridges, and essential infrastructure since President Eisenhower built the interstate highway system,” said Bennet.
“The US 287 corridor is one of Colorado’s main north-south routes, serving as a gateway to Boulder, Longmont, Loveland, and Fort Collins. I’m proud to have helped secure $47 million in federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for the improvement and redevelopment of this major roadway, which will help connect countless communities and improve roadway safety,” said Neguse.
Every year, more than a million collisions between American drivers and wildlife cost over $8 billion and result in approximately tens of thousands of serious injuries and hundreds of fatalities across the country. This infrastructure project is expected to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions in the area by at least 80 percent.
Specifically, this funding will help Larimer County and Colorado’s Department of Transportation:
- Construct wildlife crossings and intersection improvements
- Add passing lanes and centerline rumble strips
- Widen shoulders where needed
- Install a median barrier from the Colorado-Wyoming state border to the Boulder County line
“In Colorado, we are committed to ensuring the safety and protection of Coloradans on the road and avoiding costly wildlife-vehicle collisions. Thanks to the Colorado Department of Transportation for their efforts to secure this funding, Senator Bennet, Senator Hickenlooper, House Assistant Democratic Leader Neguse for their leadership, and the Biden-Harris administration for providing our state with $47 million in funding to continue reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions and help create a safer Colorado for travelers and wildlife in Larimer County and on our roads,” said Colorado Governor Jared Polis.
“US-287 connects bustling communities in Northern Colorado and is an important connector between Colorado and our neighbors in Wyoming. This grant will make it possible to address long-needed safety improvements across this growing corridor and to continue our nation-leading efforts to protect against wildlife collisions. We appreciate the strong support of our Congressional delegation and our strong partnership with Larimer county as well as Wyoming to pursue and advocate for this grant. We are grateful to the U.S. Department of Transportation for funding the grant with dollars from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” said Shoshana Lew, Executive Director, CDOT.
“We are grateful for this critical funding for CDOT and the support received from Senator Bennet, Senator Hickenlooper, and Congressman Neguse. Improving road safety and protecting our residents is a top priority for Larimer County. This investment in Highway 287 will help ensure safer travel through our region,” said Kristin Stephens, Larimer County Commissioner.
In September, the lawmakers sent a letter to DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg supporting funding for the wildlife crossing and roadway safety improvements along U.S. 287. In 2023, Hickenlooper welcomed $22 million for other wildlife crossing projects in Colorado after urging leadership to prioritize natural infrastructure restoration, resilience, and reclamation in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
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