Motorway tunnels are life-savers for animals

Builders working beside the A81 motorway from Le Mans to Laval are making the road safer for both drivers and animals as they create two écoduc tunnels to help stop animals being killed crossing the road.

The tunnels at Soulgé-sur-Ouette and Vaiges in Mayenne are 39m long and are intended for small animals such as perennial road victims badgers, foxes, hedgehogs and ferrets to protect biodiversity.

Each 1.2m diameter tunnel is drilled under the motor­way so traffic is not disrupted.

The tunnels are floored with sand to be more natural and the access has been shaped to guide the animals to the safe passage where they can see through to the other side of the road.

Work should be finished in June and building it has taken a year of work to find the best sites both for the animals and technical construction needs.

Vinci Autoroutes is putting animal routes on other roads, with écoducs going under the road and écoponts over the top.