Wildlife Connectivity

ADOT has been particularly proactive in this discipline over the past decade and the infrastructure has become important in not just Arizona but in other areas of the country as well. (We hope to continue to develop a program with established processes that can be replicated by highway project planning, design and construction teams well into the future.) The processes are aimed at streamlining the project planning and delivery process, increasing highway safety and connecting important wildlife and sensitive species habitats. We envision future wildlife connectivity project planning continuing as the potential to mitigate highways for sensitive species by adding or modifying crossing structures and fencing to streamline processes such as National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Endangered Species Act Section 7 by implementing conservation measures that truly make a difference. This will serve to improve safety issues, promote connectivity and highway permeability; and to prevent listed species impacts and future Endangered Species Act species listings.

• Wildlife Connectivity Guidance
  This overview provides an introduction and background to wildlife escape measures, wildlife funnel fencing, and wildlife passage structures. This document also includes a case study on State Route 260.
• Wildlife Escape Measures
  The wildlife escape measures listed below are designed to allow animals to escape from getting caught within existing roadway fenced corridors. In this way, these measures will help reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and sustain existing wildlife connectivity patterns of movement in the state. Details A through F, which are explained the Description of Wildlife Escape Measures text, are engineering drawings to help the project manager include the appropriate wildlife escape measure during final design.
  • Detail A (One-Way Gate)
  • Detail B (Large In-Line Wood Plank Ramp)
  • Detail C (Large Corner Wood Plank Ramp)
  • Detail D (Large In-Line Concrete Ramp)
  • Detail E (Small Escape Ramps)
  • Detail F (Slope Jumps)
• Wildlife Funnel Fencing
  Fencing that serves to funnel wildlife toward passage structures is critical to promoting highway passage. The wildlife measures listed below are suggested fencing to funnel wildlife across highway corridors with the aim of reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions. Details A through H, which are explained in the Wildlife Funnel Fencing text, are engineering drawings to help the project manager include the appropriate wildlife funneling measure during final design.
  • Detail A (ROW Fence with Standard Game Fence)
  • Detail B (Standard Wildlife Fence)
  • Detail C (Retrofit Barbed Wire Wildlife Fence)
  • Detail D (Extension Retrofit Barbed Wire Wildlife Fence)
  • Detail E (Elk Rock Fence Alternative)
  • Detail F (Tortoise Fence Specs)
  • Detail G (Horned Lizard Fence Specs)
  • Detail H (ROW Fence Wildlife Crossing PVC Sleeves)
  • Detail I (Goat Bar Detail)
• Wildlife Crossing Structure Handbook
  This handbook provides technical guidance and best management practices on the planning and design of wildlife crossing mitigation measures; for transportation and other stakeholder agencies.
• Arizona Wildlife Linkages