A colony of bats is to be "re-housed" in a disused pigsty in Cumbria to make way for a new by-pass.
The pipistrelle bats live in Black Beck Hall on the route of the proposed A590 High and Low Newton by-pass.
The new by-pass will be an alternative route for traffic between the M6 and Barrow, taking vehicles off a road with a very bad accident record.
Black Beck Hall is to be demolished and the bats will be given an alternative roost in a nearby pigsty.
The Highways Agency said moving the bats was part of early preparation work for the by-pass and construction of the road will begin later in the summer.
Costs of the project have soared during the planning stages and have now reached more than £35m.
The bypass is expected to cut 90% of traffic through the villages, cutting noise and pollution, and reducing accidents.
Up to 14,000 vehicles a day use the A590, including about 2,000 lorries.
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