CDOT Happy Canyon Wildlife Guards

Wildlife Guard Specialty Installer

As a subcontractor on the Happy Canyon and Lagae Road Improvement Project for the City of Castle Pines, Colorado, Ryno Construction was responsible for the procurement and installation of custom-built wildlife guards—a specialized alternative to traditional cattle guards designed to allow vehicle traffic while deterring wildlife crossings.

Unlike standard cattle guards, these large-scale wildlife guards were engineered as miniature bridges, built to handle full roadway loading. Working under supplemental CDOT Road and Bridge specifications, Ryno Construction managed the complex procurement process, sourcing a specialized open-grid bridge decking system fabricated in Pennsylvania. To ensure quality and accuracy, Ryno Construction dispatched a representative to Pennsylvania for QA/QC oversight prior to galvanization.

Problem Solving with Creative Solutions

Installation posed significant challenges due to restricted access beneath the structure where precision bolting was required. Each guard was assembled from individual components on elevated dunnage, then bolted together and lifted into place as a single 16’ x 30’ unit. The completed structure was secured to a precast concrete drainage footer using bearing pads and high-strength anchor systems.

Safe and Punctual

All work was performed in compliance with OSHA standards, and the project was completed on time with zero safety incidents, demonstrating Ryno Construction’s capability in executing complex, high-precision infrastructure installations.