The new A38 Dobwalls bypass is being used by the Highways Agency topilot the use of special structures to help bats find their wayacross the new road, as one of a series of measures to reduce theenvironmental impact of the new road. Drivers using the existing A38 will have passed under one of the new"bat bridges" which consists of a metal structure with wires and meshstretched in a V-shape. The new structures have replaced the hedges that, ecologists believe,bats would follow using echo location to find their way to and from their roosts. The bats can now follow the structures, at a safeheight above the traffic. The pilot project involves monitoring thestructures for a period of five years Highways Agency Environmental Advisor, David Hinde, said: "We want to reduce the impact of roads on the environment so it isimportant to continually search for better ways to reduce the impactof road schemes on protected species such as bats. "As this is a relatively new concept, Dobwalls has provided us with atimely opportunity to study how bats may benefit from these types offeatures. The trial will help us to refine our future plans fordealing with changes to habitats on other schemes." In addition, the side slopes of the new road have deliberately notbeen covered with topsoil and grass.

"The idea is that the design takes sustainability into consideration.By reducing the amount of topsoil spread onto the cutting slopes, wecan give the local wild plants and flowers a better chance tocolonise the area. "It also has the added advantage of reducing future maintenance needsand minimises the use of valuable topsoil". Other features incorporated into the design of the road includebadger tunnels and a fish pass to allow spawning fish to moveupstream. New native trees are being planted on the site and wastematerial from the local china clay industry has been used in the roadconstruction, reducing the amount of material quarried andtransported long distances. The £42 million, one-and-a-half mile (three kilometre) dualcarriageway bypass includes new local roads and junctions and a newroundabout connecting the village to the re-routed A38 and the A390to St Austell. Work started in winter 2006 and is due to finish inthe autumn of this year. Through-traffic at Dobwalls will ultimately be reduced by 90% makinga safer and quieter environment for villagers. The new road will alsohelp to boost the South West's tourism and business economy, byimproving journey time reliability for vehicles travelling acrossCornwall.

For more information visit www.highways.gov.uk