miistakis logo
header

Summer 2012

Newsletter Archive

 

Project Profile - Bow Valley Transportation Corridor

 
article image

In partnership with the Western Transportation Institute, Miistakis is pleased to announce the release of results from a study that evaluated the best locations to mitigate the effect of the Trans-Canada Highway (TCH) within the Bow Valley on local wildlife populations and to provide for reductions in wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVCs). In addition, the study conducted cost-benefit analyses to show where investments in mitigation may provide a net savings to society. The study was funded by the G8 Legacy Grant administered by the Alberta Ecotrust Foundation.

The total number of WVCs for the study section between 1998 and 2010 was 806 or an average of 62 WVCs per year. This amounts to an average cost to society of $640,922 per year due to motorist crashes with large wildlife, primarily ungulates. Results indicate there are ten sites where mitigation measures would address a combination of values: local and regional conservation needs, high WVC rates, land security where mitigation measures are made, and mitigation options that make good sense and are not engineering challenges.

Five of the ten sites had average annual costs exceeding $20,000 per year due to WVCs making each of these excellent candidates for cost effective mitigation measures. The report provides each mitigation site with its own particular blend of recommendations for how best to mitigate the effect of the TCH on local wildlife populations.

An analysis of an existing wildlife underpass with fencing along a three kilometre section of the TCH within the project area near Dead Man's Flats showed that total WVCs dropped from an annual average of 11.8 WVCs pre-construction to an annual average of 2.5 WVCs after the mitigation was constructed. The wildlife crossings and fencing reduced the annual average cost by over 90% from an average of $128,337 per year to an average of $17,564 per year. These results highlight the cost effectiveness of highway mitigation at Dead Man's Flats.

To access the full report, please click here.