Wildlife Crossing Structures and Barriers

General Description:

Wildlife Crossing Structures and Barriers are physical objects designed to reduce interactions between vehicles and animals.  There are several different types including bridge-like structures (overpasses), culvert-like structures (underpasses), barriers, and escape structures.  Barriers block animal crossings, while escape structures encourage animals to exit the roadway. 

Effects of Solution:

¨ Increase Passenger Throughput

¨ Increase Roadway Capacity

þ Manage System Efficiency (Reduces animal-vehicle conflicts)

¨ Reduce Local Demand

Animal Crossing Structures and Barriers are primarily used for safety purposes.  The reduction of accidents assists in providing optimum system efficiency.

Examples of Implementation:

Banff National Park, Canada

US Highway 93 (between Missoula and Polson, Montana)

Cost/Financial Information:

Costs will depend on the type of crossing, such as an underpass or overpass, and the size of the crossing (for large and/or small animals). 

Additional Resources:

Wildlife Crossings Toolkit by the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service:

http://www.wildlifecrossings.info/beta2.htm

Western Transportation Institute: Transportation System Wildlife Interactions--On Going Projects (project reports available):

http://www.coe.montana.edu/wti/what/handler.php?code=onWildlife

Banff National Park of Canada information on wildlife crossings: http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/docs/routes/chap3/routes3_e.asp

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