Description du projet (anglais)
Interstate 89 between Burlington and Montpelier, Vermont, is the busiest stretch of road in the state. It serves as the most substantial barrier to wildlife movement between the two largest contiguous forestlands in Vermont—the 54,000 acre forest block containing Camel’s Hump State Park to the south and the 72,000 acre forest containing Mount Mansfield State Forest to the north. Along this stretch, just west of the village of Waterbury, four lanes of I-89 cross the Little River as it enters the Winooski River. Two-lane Vermont Highway 2 runs parallel to I-89, meaning the Little River passes under six lanes of traffic in this location. Wildlife-vehicle collisions were common as wildlife tried to move through the area. In 2013, Highway 2 was scheduled for an upgrade and a two-year study began to better understand wildlife movement in this area and improve highway safety. Using the data from preconstruction monitoring, a horizontal shelf was built into the riprap or rock armoring. Grubbing material (gravel and dirt fill) was then added to create a trail surface attractive to and passable by wildlife. The shelf stretches under three bridges—both directions of I-89 and Highway 2—making it possible for wildlife to cross under six lanes of highway without getting their feet wet or entering the roadway.
Description du projet (français)
Organisation principale responsable du projet
Organisation(s) partenaire(s)
Vermont Agency of Transportation
Fait partie d'un réseau plus large
Staying Connected Initiave (SCI)
Statut du projet
En cours
Date de début du projet
2013
Écosystème(s) concerné(s)
Forestier
Eau douce
Riverain
Catégorie(s) d'actions liées à la connectivité
Établissement de noyaux prioritaires
Atténuation des impacts des infrastructures
Recherche (Évaluation de la connectivité sur le terrain)
Mots-clés standards
Corridors
Transport (routes, chemin de fer, ponceau, pont)
Caméra pour l'observation de la faune
Mots-clés
Wildlife shelf
Couverture taxonomique
Mammifères
Étendue géographique
Région(s)
Vermont
Chittenden
Nom du lieu
Little River Road