Location
London
Event Website
http://www.csce2016.ca/
Description
MTO is actively expanding Highway 69 from a two-lane rural highway to a four-lane controlled access freeway. This is being completed through the eastern Georgian Bay area, some of the most pristine habitat for numerous species at risk reptiles. MTO obtained a permit under the Endangered Species Act for the project, prescribing extensive mitigation measures, including a requirement to prevent snakes and turtles from accessing the highway while still being able to access habitat on both sides.
To fulfill this condition, MTO is constructing one of the most permeable highways in Canada. At this stage, MTO has completed 13 passage systems (crossings underneath the highway) and is planning to construct another 80 passages, including approximately 140 kilometres of fencing to keep the animals off the roadway and funnel them towards the passages.
There have been many challenges over the years, both in design and implementation.
The challenges with these passage systems include:
- Materials (durability, mesh size, multiple species of snakes and turtles);
- Installation (bedrock and swamp);
- Design (where/how to end fencing, locating crossings, making culverts attractive to reptiles);
- Monitoring effectiveness, and
- Maintenance.
Included in
TRA-927: THE EVOLUTION OF REPTILE MITIGATION MEASURES ON HIGHWAY 69
London
MTO is actively expanding Highway 69 from a two-lane rural highway to a four-lane controlled access freeway. This is being completed through the eastern Georgian Bay area, some of the most pristine habitat for numerous species at risk reptiles. MTO obtained a permit under the Endangered Species Act for the project, prescribing extensive mitigation measures, including a requirement to prevent snakes and turtles from accessing the highway while still being able to access habitat on both sides.
To fulfill this condition, MTO is constructing one of the most permeable highways in Canada. At this stage, MTO has completed 13 passage systems (crossings underneath the highway) and is planning to construct another 80 passages, including approximately 140 kilometres of fencing to keep the animals off the roadway and funnel them towards the passages.
There have been many challenges over the years, both in design and implementation.
The challenges with these passage systems include:
- Materials (durability, mesh size, multiple species of snakes and turtles);
- Installation (bedrock and swamp);
- Design (where/how to end fencing, locating crossings, making culverts attractive to reptiles);
- Monitoring effectiveness, and
- Maintenance.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/csce2016/London/Transportation/9
