Special bridges to save rare bats

There is a large population of lesser horseshoe bats in the area

A section of one of south Wales' busiest roads is to be closed while special "bat bridges" are built.

The A465 between Gilwern and Abergavenny will close overnight on 29 March while the structures are erected.

Rare lesser horseshoe bats fly over the road to feed, and used to follow the path of two now demolished bridges.

Contractors plan to hang a wire rope mesh strung between two poles where the old bridges stood, for the bats to follow and stop them flying into cars.

The old bridges were destroyed as part of an ongoing programme to widen the road.

We are going to put the bat bridges up so they don't fly low and into traffic Andy Jenkins, Nuttall

Nuttall, the contractors responsible for the dualling scheme, say the bridges are just one of a series of measures to protect local wildlife.

They say they are also building otter passes and helping maintain the habitat of great crested newts.

Bats usually avoid crossing open areas such as roads.

But if there are no natural linear features, they will sometimes fly across the area at low level - which could lead to them being hit by cars.

The bat bridges will provide a clear linear feature for them to follow above traffic height.

Nuttall spokesman Andy Jenkins said: "Because we have taken down two bridges and built a new bridge in between, we've got to put the bat bridges up as a temporary measure until the bats get used to the new bridge."

He added: "It's because they are a protected species. We are going to put the bat bridges up so they don't fly low and into traffic."