The UK’s first heathland bridge is poised to open next month, giving wildlife a chance to cross a busy motorway. The £3.7million Cockrow Bridge now spans the A3 near Cobham, in Surrey.
It reconnects two rare heathland areas which are home to all kinds of British wildlife. Toads, badgers and snakes are all expected to make use of the new bridge. The 223ft bridge has been funded by National Highways and will allow pedestrians, cyclists and animals to safely cross the motorway.
The bridge is the first of its kind in the UK, and replaces a pedestrian bridge that was built in the 80s.
Steve Elderkin, director of environmental sustainability at National Highways, said: “While roads have always connected people and places, they are too often a barrier for nature, severing habitats and contributing to the decline in biodiversity.”
The bridge is designed to blend in with the surrounding natural landscape and connect the two habitats on either side of the road together. It’s a whopping 98ft wide, leaving plenty of room for all kinds of wildlife and pedestrians to wander it.
The National Highways website reads: “We’ll plant the bridge with heather and other heathland shrubs. It will provide a safe, natural corridor for local wildlife to spread and increase across the local area.
“This includes animals like sand lizards, silver studded butterflies and heath tiger beetles.”
Although the UK is already home to several wildlife bridges, this will be the first heathland one. The other bridges can be found spanning the A556 near Chester, the A30 in Cornwall, and the A21 at Scotney Castle in Kent.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
