Road ecology blog: Support columns and support walls for wildlife underpasses
Road ecology blog: Support columns and support walls for wildlife underpasses.
Support columns for bridges result in a better openness for wildlife than support walls. Here are two underpasses (bridges) next to each other for the two travel directions. One bridge has support pillars, the other bridges has support walls. The walls block a substantial part of the view to the other side of the structure, and this is associated with reduced wildlife use. Support pillars allow animals to see more of what is on the other side of the structure, and this is associated with increased wildlife use.
These bridges are the White Rock Canyon wildlife underpass for desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni), US Hwy 93, Arizona, USA.
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Support columns (better openness for wildlife), White Rock Canyon wildlife underpass for desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni), White Rock Canyon bridge, US Hwy 93, Arizona, USA
Support walls (reduced openness for wildlife), White Rock Canyon wildlife underpass for desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni), White Rock Canyon bridge, US Hwy 93, Arizona, USA