State Route 260 Wildlife Fencing (Arizona)

The State Route 260 (SR 260) Project is a cooperative effort between the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD), Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the Tonto National Forest (TNF) to address both traffic capacity needs and ecological considerations.  The project is located along a 17-mile stretch of SR 260 between Payson and Heber, Arizona.  As a part of the phased improvements to upgrade SR 260 from a two-lane highway to a divided four-lane highway, ADOT is constructing 17 bridges specifically designed to accommodate wildlife movement.  Since 2001 the AGFD has implemented various methods of technology to evaluate the effect of the highway upgrades on wildlife.  To evaluate the effectiveness of the underpasses, AGFD installed video camera systems at several of the underpasses and has recorded over 11,000 animals.  AGFD has collared approximately 100 elk with GPS collars to determine movements associated with the upgrade of SR 260.  Data obtained from these methods has allowed an adaptive management approach to modifications of future underpass designs.  It has also allowed AGFD to make reasonable and cost-effective recommendations for providing ungulate-proof fencing required to intercept animals and funnel them to underpasses.

As a continuation of these efforts, AGFD is working with ADOT, FHWA, TNF, AZTEC Engineering, and ElectroBraid Fence Inc. to construct and evaluate various types of ungulate-proof fencing