UNDERPASS DESIGN
Why Choose An Underpass
The Temecula Creek Wildlife Underpass Design is based on an existing underpass that has not been used by the native wildlife. The additional design elements being proposed aim to encourage wildlife to cross the I-15 by separating conserved land from its human inhabitants. The design is aimed to do this by strategically phasing the installation of appropriate signage, vegetation, fencing, and sound baffles in the area. This design will help the stability and livelihood of the wildlife while being of nominal financial burden to the community.
InfraWorks Drawing
Satellite Location
Yellow dots are an indication of California Mountain Lion movement. Data found during Winston Vickers', of US Davis, research into the California Mountain Lion in the Temecula area.
Our Design
Phase I - Signs
Phase II - Vegetation
Phase III - Fencing
Human-deterring chain link
Wildlife/Animal safety fencing
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Fencing Layout
Fencing Layout
Phase IV- Sound Baffles
Vegetation Design
Our main goal for the Temecula Creek Underpass in Temecula, CA is to keep people away from the site. Our vegetation design revolves around this idea, these plants were picked because they are native to this area and will help deter humans while not deterring animals. Plants Selected to deter humans: California Rose, Stinging Nettles, and California Blackberry.
Research for Design
The focus for the design for Passageway 3, is to redevelop the area in order to better support and encourage the Mountain Lions to travel to the other side of I-15 through the Temecula Creek Underpass. Initial site investigations revealed the large amount of human activity in this area, which is the biggest deterrent for Mountain Lion crossing. This design deters humans through the installation of signs, vegetation, and fencing. The layout of the fencing was created based on criteria focused mainly on human deterrence, as well as cost and maintenance. The design proposes the installation of two different types of fences for both wildlife and humans. The wildlife fence for this project is based on the fence used in the award-winning SR-241 Wildlife Protection Fence Project. Research was also done on vegetation. Native plants, such as California roses and stinging nettles, are proposed to be installed in order to make the area uncomfortable for humans. The research was performed to ensure that these plants would not be invasive to existing plants and that they would not be harmful to wildlife. Sound baffles are proposed due to the echoing discovered during a site investigation. It is a possibility that this noise is discouraging mountain lions from moving through the underpass. The sound baffles are made of a textured material, which will also assist in deterring humans since graffiti was found on the walls of the underpass during said site investigation. This passageway will be implemented in the following phases: signs, vegetation, fencing, and sound baffles. These phases will allow future wildlife crossing projects to know which phase works best in deterring humans.
Existing Conditions
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Human Presence
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Noise
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Dense Vegetation
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Creek Conditions
A preliminary site visit was conducted by our team's advisers, our team then was able to visit the Temecula Creek, and a drone visit was also conducted. ​
Underpass Team
Regina Kingi
General Civil Engineer
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Infraworks Lead
Underpass Design Team
Cost Analysis