The Long Point World Biosphere Reserve Foundation retained a team of Ecologists, Environmental Planners, Water Resources and Civil Engineers from Ecoplans Limited and McCormick Rankin Corporation to undertake the Feasibility Study and prepare a Plan to guide future improvements, including short and long term recommendations for the Long Point Causeway. 

The Long Point Causeway connects Highway 59 and Port Rowan to the cottage community on Long Point at the head of Long Point Inner Bay on Lake Erie, in Norfolk County. The causeway forms the east edge of the Big Creek Marsh, a 1200 ha Provincially Significant wetland located at the mouth of Big Creek at the head of Inner Bay.

The causeway is a vital community and recreational link to Long Point. However, it has isolated the Big Creek Marsh habitat from the shoreline and nearshore habitat of Inner Bay, hindering wildlife movement opportunities and fish passage, causing significant wildlife road mortality and reducing open water connections and associated flow. The Long Point Causeway has been deemed the fifth deadliest road in the world for turtles (Ashley 2006).

The intent of the Feasibility Study was to identify and develop practical solutions to reduce wildlife road mortality, improve habitat and open water connectivity and provide opportunity for safe wildlife movement between Big Creek Marsh and Inner Bay.  Subsequent design phases will be required to further develop the Plan into a full design that can be constructed.

Because solutions to reduce wildlife road mortality and increase connectivity will likely involve road construction works, ancillary benefits of creating safer roadway conditions for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists and enhancing recreational opportunities (such as biking, birding and fishing) are incorporated into an overall Plan for the causeway.  The success of implementing the recommended solutions presented in the Plan depends on the ability to unite efforts with Norfolk County planning, transportation and servicing initiatives.