No decisions were made Tuesday, but don’t be surprised if there’s between $250,000 and $500,000 in Eagle County’s 2025 budget earmarked to help protect wildlife on the Summit County side of Vail Pass.

The Eagle County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday heard a presentation from representatives of Summit County Safe Passages. That group is working with county, state and other officials to create safer ways for wildlife to get across Interstate 70 on the east side of Vail Pass.

That project, currently in the design and fundraising phase, would include wildlife fencing from Copper Mountain west to the top of the pass. Wildlife could cross under several existing bridges. The plan also includes three new wildlife crossings.

Those crossings would be in addition to fencing and crossings planned in the current west Vail Pass project currently under construction.

Fundraising has ramped up recently to help get the plans off the ground. In January, it received $750,000 in state funding, according to a news release from the Polis administration. The project recently received a $450,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, which was announced in May. The wildlife foundation grant was secured shortly after a yearling moose was hit by a car on I-70 in Summit County on May 18.

Julia Kintsch of Summit County Safe Passages said wildlife-related crashes are the third-leading cause of auto accidents on that stretch of Vail Pass. Kintsch added that between two and four times as many incidents aren’t reported.

In addition to the toll on humans and property, there’s a significant toll on wildlife, of course.  

The project is currently in the “60%” design stage, and Kintsch said another $1 million is needed to complete the design work. An Eagle County contribution of $500,000 could help get the design completed and “shovel-ready,” Kintsch said.

After that work is done, it will be time to seek funding for construction.

Kintsch said project supporters recently learned that $6 million in matching state funds are available to seek funds through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Act. While competition is fierce for those federal funds, Kintsch said project backers are optimistic about the chances, thanks to local and state partnerships.

While the east Vail Pass project is entirely in Summit County, Kintsch noted that I-70 is the gateway to Eagle County, and that surveys show wildlife is a “very important” value to a vast majority of county residents.

Commissioner Matt Scherr noted that when the commissioners a few years ago asked county voters to extend the county’s property tax for open space, wildlife was listed as a top consideration.

Kintsch added that the wildlife overpasses envisioned for east Vail Pass will be highly visible, and could lead to support for similar projects elsewhere. She noted that a wildlife overpass south of Kremmling has been a success from both a wildlife protection standpoint and in raising public awareness.

County Manager Jeff Shroll said wildlife overpasses are badly needed in the county and are a great solution to protecting wildlife and motorists.

In addition, Eagle County Open Space and natural resources director Marcia Gilles noted that providing wildlife with safe ways to cross the interstate is “super important” for the herds in the future.

Kintsch said a couple of Eagle County officials will be invited on an EcoFlight this summer to take an aerial tour of the area.

Commissioner Jeanne McQueeney said those flights demonstrate “why it’s so important we work with our neighbors” on projects such as the eastern side of Vail Pass.

Commissioner Kathy Chandler-Henry said she was on an Eco Flight in 2023 and noted that “When you see (the landscape) from the air, you can really visualize it … I’m glad you’re including us in this.”

For more information, go to SummitCountySafePassages.org.