CDOT Launches Early Wildfire Mitigation Along Colorado Highway Corridors in 2026

The Colorado Department of Transportation nearly doubled its spending on vegetation management to protect the state's 9,000-mile highway network, tapping $12 million not used for snowplowing during this record-dry winter to hire tree-removal contractors.

The announcement, made March 18, came with an unusually grim forecast behind it. CDOT meteorologists warned of an above-normal potential for significant fires across much of Colorado, but especially in the mountains and foothills, this summer. The backdrop is hard to ignore: state transportation commissioners approved the effort after agency meteorologists warned of above-normal potential for large, fast-moving fires due to record-low snow and high temperatures, and wind-whipped fires this winter have already forced highway closures along Interstate 25 north of Denver and Colorado 115 south of Colorado Springs.

"Our highway corridors run through some of the most fire-prone landscapes in the country," said Bob Fifer, CDOT's deputy director of operations. "We have a responsibility not only to keep roads open, but to make sure our right of way isn't contributing to the fire problem. This year, with drought conditions already taking hold across Colorado, we're moving earlier and working harder to get ahead of the risk."

CDOT maintenance crews have already begun accelerated mowing, brush clearing and vegetation treatment along high-priority corridors, with a focus on areas identified as elevated fire threat zones by the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control. Those areas include El Paso and Teller counties to Larimer County, Jefferson to Garfield counties, and Montezuma, La Plata, Archuleta, Dolores and San Miguel counties. Contractors are focusing on removing dead and diseased trees most prone to burning and falling across highways, taking a "surgical" approach mindful of environmental impacts. Clearing has started along highways in El Paso and Teller counties near Colorado Springs, Larimer and Jefferson counties in metro Denver, Garfield County along I-70, and in southwestern Colorado.

CDOT is expanding the use of herbicide treatment and mechanical brush removal along road shoulders in areas where topography and traffic volume increase ignition and spread risk, creating clear breaks that can slow or stop a fire from spreading into surrounding wildland. On mountain corridors including U.S. Highway 6, Colorado Highway 72, U.S. Highway 160, U.S. Highway 285 and portions of Interstate 70, vegetation management is being coordinated with federal and local land managers to ensure treatments extend beyond CDOT's right of way where feasible.

Dry, unmowed grass and dense brush along highway shoulders are among the most common ignition points for roadside wildfires, and a spark from a trailer chain, a hot catalytic converter or a vehicle fire can spread rapidly in drought conditions. CDOT is also ramping up driver safety messaging for travel through Colorado's forests and grasslands, where sparks from discarded cigarettes, hot catalytic converters or truck trailer chains can easily ignite dry weeds and wood along roads. Motorists are urged to never throw cigarettes from vehicles, secure trailer chains and tow equipment to prevent road contact, and pull onto a paved shoulder rather than stopping in dry grass if a vehicle shows signs of trouble.

CDOT is an active participant in the state's emerging multiagency drought response, working alongside Colorado State Patrol, Colorado State Fire Chiefs, county emergency managers and local fire departments to share risk information and align response protocols. Regional maintenance and operations centers have standing communication channels with local incident management teams and have pre-positioned equipment in areas where roadway access could be critical to evacuation or suppression efforts.

CDOT has also coordinated with the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to ensure highway closure and traffic management protocols are current for potential fire-related incidents, including rapid deployment of variable message signs, coordination of alternate routes and public notification through COtrip.org and the COtrip Planner app. Real-time road conditions, closures and fire-related restrictions are available at COtrip.org throughout the season.