A fence lining a mile-long stretch of I-64 in Albemarle County, Va., has reportedly been significantly reducing crashes involving wildlife.
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) installed the fence in Ivy as the first test site in the commonwealth for this safety system.
The Virginia Transportation Research Council is studying the wildlife fencing. By this time in 2016, there were about eight crashes involving deer on I-64 near Ivy. That number has dropped to zero since the fencing went up.
The mile of 8-ft high fencing lines both sides of I-64 near the Ivy exit. It guides large wildlife, like deer and bears, to a box culvert beneath the roadway. Cameras placed along the fence show deer coming up to it, and turning back to find another way around instead of crossing traffic on the interstate.
Researchers say this system is cutting down on crashes at a cost of about $300,000 for each stretch of fencing. Researchers will study wildlife crashes in these fenced areas for another year before coming out with a final report about whether VDOT should install more fences statewide.
VDOT is also testing a warning system to alert drivers to deer on I-64.
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Source: WVIR-TV
