A groundbreaking £460 million wildlife bridge is currently under construction in Gloucestershire, with its completion slated for 2027. This ambitious project, known as the Gloucestershire Way bridge, is set to become the United Kingdom's largest wildlife crossing, forming a crucial part of the A417 Missing Link initiative. The overarching goal of this scheme is to develop new road infrastructure while meticulously preserving the natural beauty and diverse wildlife of the Cotswolds region.
Design and Features of the Wildlife Corridor
The wildlife bridge serves as a pivotal component of the A417 project, spanning 37 metres in length across the new A417 dual carriageway that connects Gloucester and Cirencester. Its design incorporates a 27-metre stretch of grassland and strategically planted hedgerows on both sides. These hedgerows are specifically intended to facilitate bats and barn owls in using the structure as a commuting corridor, while the grassland and additional trees will ensure safe passage for deer, badgers, and various reptile species.
Multi-Use Functionality
In addition to its primary ecological purpose, the bridge will also accommodate walkers, cyclists, and horse riders, integrating human recreation with wildlife conservation. This dual-use approach underscores the project's commitment to balancing infrastructure development with environmental stewardship and public access.
Project Leadership and Collaboration
Gavin Jones, Kier's project director for the scheme, expressed pride in the team's progress, stating, "The green bridge is the centrepiece of the scheme, linking up habitats and the landscape on one side of the road to the other. The focus is the ecology, the animals that are going to use it, but not forgetting the people - it's going to be a footpath as well. We're on budget, ahead of programme, and [have] a good safety record. I couldn't be prouder of the team."
Nicola Bell, National Highways' executive director of major projects, highlighted the collaborative nature of the initiative, saying, "Our work goes beyond just operating and maintaining our roads and by collaborating more closely with Natural England, we can ensure that our infrastructure projects deliver better outcomes for both people and nature."
Partnership with Natural England
Marian Spain, Natural England's chief executive, emphasised the positive outcomes achieved through close cooperation, noting, "Projects like the A417 showcase the positive outcomes for people and nature that can be achieved by working closely together. This memorandum is an important step in embedding this open, early, constructive communications between Natural England and National Highways to deliver our shared objectives of sustainable development."
Global Context
While this bridge will be the largest of its kind in the UK upon completion, it is noteworthy that the world's largest wildlife bridge is located in Colorado, North America. This project places the UK at the forefront of innovative conservation efforts within infrastructure development, setting a benchmark for future initiatives.
