WILDLIFE CONSIDERATIONS IN MANAGING HIGHWAY RIGHTS-OF-WAY (ABRIDGMENT)

In many instances, highway rights-of-way can have great potential for preserving or enhancing wildlife habitat. In order to fully realize this potential, however, highways need to be properly managed. In most cases, this will not require any significant increase in effort or expense on the part of the highway agencies. In some instances, proper wildlife management may result in an overall reduction in highway maintenance expense and effort. It is recommended that state highway agencies work closely with state wildlife agencies not only on the initial planning and construction of a highway, but on the operation and maintenance as well. Proper rights-of-way management, including a management plan developed on an area-by-area basis. Consideration of wildlife in managing highway rights-of-way requires these basics: an awareness of and an appreciation for the roadside ecosystem, a set of management goals or objectives, and a good working relationship between the highway engineer and the wildlife biologist. Examples of such planning are given, including construction of fences and special over- and underpasses to keep migrating deer from colliding with vehicles, reducing mowing (This not only provides better habitat for certain species but reduces maintenance costs as well) and landscaping with plant species that provide food and shelter for an area's wildlife.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1977/647/647-006.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=WILDLIFE+CONSIDERATIONS+IN+MANAGING+HIGHWAY+RIGHTS-OF-WAY+(ABRIDGMENT)&author=D.+Smith&publication_year=1977
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309026768
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Roadside Maintenance. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Smith, Douglas L
• Conference:
  • 56th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia, United States
  • Date: 1977-1-24 to 1977-1-28
• Publication Date: 1977

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: References;
• Pagination: pp 23-25
• Monograph Title: Evaluating Bridge Structures, Pavement Maintenance, Roadside Management, Deicing Salts, Transport of Hazardous Materials
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 647
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crashes; Deer; Ecology; Highway maintenance; Maintenance management; Plants; Right of way (Land); Roadside
• Uncontrolled Terms: Maintenance costs
• Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00184727
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309026768
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-024 782
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Dec 29 1978 12:00AM