My normal commute to work takes me through the Ballona Wetlands. Every day you see one or more small animals that did not make it across Culver or Jefferson the night before. I started to wonder if there was something that could be done about that. Since the roadways are vital connections from the South Bay, they will of course remain but they clearly represent a hazard to the natural environment they transverse. Obviously, if the roadway was built like a causeway, above the level of the wetlands, the animals could move freely across the entire area. Of course, that would be hugely expensive. Tunnels under the at-grade roadways aren’t really practical since the water table is so high. I’ve seen wide bridges that support soil and planting and maybe a few of those would work, sweeping the terrain up and over the roadways, which would enter intermittent tunnels below. The proposal we have pictured on the site is more modest than that (and way more economical). Whether it is effective remains a question. I’m hoping for some helpful input from experts. That’s why we established this page. —Peter Mitsakos
Peter M. Mitsakos is Principal Architect at West Edge Architects/Peter M. Mitsakos & Associates, Inc. (WEA). He believes that thoughtfully designed spaces can have a great and positive effect on a building’s activities and its surroundings. WEA was was established in 2000 and provides Urban Design, Planning, Architecture, Programming, and Interior Design Services for institutional, commercial and residential clients.
We received this email at our office. Below is the comment and our response:
May 10, 2017
I love the idea of the Critter Crossing that you are working on in Playa Del Rey! As a long time PDR resident and a supporter of Friends of Ballona Wetlands, I am concerned about our beautiful creatures in addition to the habitat preservation. I have a couple of questions: Will the tubes contain earth to allow plants to grow through the translucent sections, which would probably be more attractive to the critters? Will the entrances on either side be large to “funnel” the animals in? Where will the funding come from? Just curious, as I think this is a fab idea!
Bonnie Cullinan
WEST EDGE ARCHITECTS:
Bonnie,
We’re so happy that you like the idea. I am not sure to what degree we would include planting and earth. Maybe the bridges should be really overgrown!
The best of all worlds would be to either elevate the roadway and let the wildlife move back and forth freely beneath it; or build a more conventional bridge over the road with earth and planting on it so it is more or less continuous with the wetlands on either side. Our idea was to suggest something that would be very economical compared to those alternatives.
Yes, we thought the material that forms the surface of the bridge/tubes would fan out at either side to guide the critters to the entrance (and keep them off the road!). The bridges would be large enough inside for them to be maintained by humans.
We don’t have funding as of yet but we are hoping to get enough people interested to where this becomes a realistic undertaking.
Thank you for your interest and for writing.
Sincerely,
Peter M. Mitsakos
on June 22, 2016 at 11:32 am
Great, thanks for sharing this post.Really looking forward to read more. Much obliged. Hoefler
WEST EDGE ARCHITECTS:
Thanks!