New bridges built in bushfire recovery to help wildlife cross highways

As part of the bushfire recovery effort along the Oxley and Pacific highways, new rope canopy bridges are being built for the local wildlife.

The rope bridges will allow wildlife to cross the busy road corridors more safely.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said the new bridges replaced the ones damaged by bushfires last summer.

“Animals like possums and gliders use these bridges to access food, water and mates on the other side of the highways, but were unable to do so after last year’s bushfire season when several of the structures caught fire,” Toole said.

“Transport for NSW has reinstated the bridges on the Oxley Highway, about two kilometres east of the Pacific Highway interchange at Port Macquarie, and the Pacific Highway, about one kilometre south of Johns River.”

He said research shows the bridges are regularly used by some of the country’s most endangered species.

“The local wildlife suffered during last summer’s bushfires, so I’m glad we’ve been able to restore the bridges to help protect some of our most endangered species.”