Small mammal ledges have been installed beneath the A421 improvement scheme to help wildlife safely pass under the new dual carriageway.
National Highways has added raised pathways within several culverts between the Black Cat roundabout in Bedfordshire and the Caxton Gibbet roundabout in Cambridgeshire, creating dry routes for animals to move through the drainage structures without entering the water, reports the BBC.
The ledges are designed to improve habitat connectivity and support species including badgers, hedgehogs and other small mammals by allowing them to safely access areas on either side of the road.
Paul Salmon, senior project manager at National Highways, said:
“Protecting the environment is central to both the design and construction of our scheme. Features like this help to improve habitat connectivity and support local wildlife.”
National Highways said extensive survey work had helped develop a detailed understanding of the local environment and inform the design of the project.
The A421 improvement scheme will create a new 10-mile (16km) dual carriageway between the Black Cat and Caxton Gibbet roundabouts, with the aim of reducing congestion and improving journey times. The new road is expected to open in spring 2027.
(Picture: National Highways)
