Here at The Toll Roads, we are known for our reliable commutes and scenic views. But what many people may not know is that from the start, the roads were built with wildlife in mind.
From the coast to the foothills, Orange County is home to a variety of wildlife, such as mountain lions, deer, bobcats, coyotes and more. When The Toll Roads were designed in the late 1980s, our engineers took the initiative to ensure the construction did not hinder the ability of local wildlife to move through important wildlife corridors adjacent to the roads.
Along the roads, you’ll find more than 40 wildlife undercrossings, bridges and culverts that allow for connectivity of the landscape utilized by wildlife in the area. These undercrossings and the surrounding areas are monitored with strategically placed motion-sensor cameras to document how wildlife use the undercrossings.
Check out some video of wildlife captured on the cameras!
In 2016, the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency (F/ETCA) worked in partnership with U.S. Fish and Wildlife, University of California, Davis and Caltrans, to design, plan, install and monitor a Wildlife Protection Fence along the 241 Toll Road to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and habitat loss.
The Wildlife Protection Fence, which spans the northern end of the 241, guides animals to existing wildlife bridge and culvert undercrossings that allow protected passage to open spaces on either side of the road. It is also equipped with periodic jump-out ramps to provide animals with access back into open space should they inadvertently end up on the roadside of the fence.
Post-construction monitoring has shown that this state-of-the-art, award-winning project has reduced wildlife-vehicle collisions while increasing the use of the undercrossings by various animals, demonstrating the remarkable positive impact of TCA’s environmental efforts.
Building sustainable traffic solutions are a core piece of our past, present and future. Our commitment to managing our award-winning environmental sites and programs will allow future generations – both animals and humans – to safely travel through Orange County.
Learn more about our environmental initiatives, future projects and more at TheTollRoads.com.
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