Project Name: Baker Canyon Wildlife Underpass (I-15 MP 135 to MP 142.5)
Owner: Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) in collaboration with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR)
Contractor: W.W. Clyde & Company (General Contractor), Harward and Rees (Subcontractor)
Engineering Firm: Avenue Consultants, UDOT Structures
Date: Phase I and II completed in 2020. Phase III (final phase) expected to be completed in April 2021
Manufacturer: Geneva Pipe and Precast
Product Specifications (size, material, lining, coating, joints): A total of 40 three-sided box culvert sections, each being 8 feet in length, to create a four-sided clamshell box culvert with a 24-foot span, 12-foot rise, and a total length of 160 linear feet
Total Weight: Approximately 982 tons
Overview:
To improve the safety of Utah’s roadways for both animals and people, our team manufactured 40 three-sided box culvert sections to create a 24-foot span wildlife underpass for the Baker Canyon project between Mile Post 135 and Mile Post 142.5 on Interstate 15. Precast concrete box culverts make resilient and economical solutions to wildlife underpasses. They are easy to install, will endure intense earth and vehicle loading conditions, and are highly resistant to floatation in a flood event.
Narrative:
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) estimates that one to two million collisions between cars and large animals occur annually in the United States. This problem poses a real risk to human safety as well as wildlife survival. Interstate 15 is a vital transportation element for Utah since it is the primary north-south highway with most of the state’s population living along or near its corridor. According to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (Utah DWR), around 6,300 deer and elk were killed in wildlife-vehicle collisions on I-15 and other state roads in 2019. To help solve this problem, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and Utah Department of Transportation have partnered to create more wildlife crossing throughout the state. The Utah DWR estimates that wildlife-vehicle collisions can be reduced by up to 90% when a crossing structure such as a precast concrete box culvert is combined with a fence to guide animals to a safe crossing space within a designated area.
This project is just one example of nearly 60 wildlife crossings installed in Utah since the mid-1970s. Our team at Geneva Pipe and Precast played a critical role in the Baker Canyon wildlife underpass by designing, manufacturing and shipping 40 three-sided culvert sections each weighing approximately 50,000 pounds to complete the full four-sided box culvert. The clamshell culvert has a 12-foot rise, a 24-foot span, and runs a total length of 160 linear feet underneath I-15 to provide animals living in that area a safe passageway for migration and access to grazelands and other natural resources.
Precast concrete box culverts are a popular solution to wildlife underpasses due to their resilience and overall economical price. They are quick and easy to install, can be designed to endure intense earth and vehicle loading conditions, and are highly resistant to floatation in a flood event. Furthermore, because the structures are delivered to the project site in a ready-for-install condition, the time required for construction can be reduced making for a safer and more cost-effective installation. Our team at Geneva Pipe and Precast looks forward to partnering with the Utah DWR and UDOT again on projects like this, providing sustainable solutions that enhance both roadway safety and wildlife conservation efforts.
Social Media Posts & News Articles about the project:
- Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Facebook Post
- Utah Wildlife Resources News
- W. W. Clyde & Company LinkedIn
Content Citations:
- Kessler, Mori of Cedar City News. “State wildlife, road officials work to keep deer, motorists safe with animal crossing infrastructure.” Dec. 31, 2019.
- Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (Utah DWR). “6 wildlife highway crossings, fences installed in Utah in 2020 to help prevent collisions.” Dec. 02, 2020.
- Vartan, Starre. “How wildlife bridges over highways make animals—and people—safer.” National Geographic, Apr. 16, 2019.
- Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). “Wildlife-Vehicle Collision Reduction Study, Report to Congress.” U.S. Department of Transportation, Aug, 2008).
