New wildlife fencing underway on I-80 through Echo Canyon

Wildlife Fencing Installation along I-80/I-84 junction. Photo: UDOT

PARK CITY, Utah — The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) is installing wildlife fencing at the I-80/I-84 interchange. The project is expected to be completed by the first week of November.

Update to the construction timeline

UDOT provided the following update from Jeff Putzke, communication/public information manager at Sunrise Engineering: “The actual fencing perimeter and other miscellaneous fencing-related structures will not be completed until approximately Oct 11.  Immediately following this work, the contractor will begin removing/replacing some deteriorating road cattleguards at the I-80 on/off ramps at Echo Canyon Road. This will force some brief ramp closures, but detours will be provided. After some vegetation reseeding at impacted sections, the actual job is not slated to be entirely complete until the first week of November. With incoming weather potential, I suspect they may reach that milestone much earlier.”

I-80/I-84 is along a major elk and deer migration corridor

As studied by the Wildlife Migration Initiative, the following map highlights why the junction of I-80 and I-84 are such a high priority for wildlife fencing by UDOT and DNR.

The red sections indicate high-use corridors, the orange sections are medium-use corridors, and the yellow sections are low-use corridors. Mule deer and elk mostly use these migration corridors when traveling between their winter and summer habitats.

Completion of the current fencing project

The current wildlife fencing project at Echo Canyon is timed to be completed by the time winter migration begins. Note how small a section of the migration path it covers. Please drive carefully to protect yourself and the wildlife. Wildlife-vehicle collisions are quite expensive.