Installation of the wildlife crossing, Neuenkirch

There are around 300 wildlife corridors in Switzerland, but a large part of them are interrupted by secured traffic routes and prevent the animals’ usual migrations. Since 2003, the Federal Roads Office (ASTRA) has been working with the Federal Office for the Environment (BAFU and the cantons to rehabilitate these wildlife corridors. When the A2 was built in the 1970s, the wildlife corridor near Neuenkirch was also severed and is now to receive a new crossing.

Since mid-March, the company HUSNER AG Holzbau, CH-Frick, has been assembling the complete timber construction (1450 m3). Timbatec Holzbauingenieure Schweiz AG was responsible for the engineering of the timber structure. Our team was responsible for the construction of the 90 glulam beams, which will span the A2 in the future with 3 lanes in both directions. A single girder is 17.5 metres long, 72 centimetres wide and 1.24 metres high. It consists of three individual girders, 24 centimetres wide and 10 centimetres higher, which are glued together in width (block gluing).

Our delivery as subcontractor included: spruce glulam, partly pressure-impregnated, glued with RF:
Blank slats 1’950 m3 -> (regrown in our Swiss forest in approx. 100 minutes)
BSH beams in fir wood 1’430 m3
Supports in oak 20 m3
In the Swiss forest approx. 10’400’000 m3 WOOD grows again per year, i.e. per minute = approx. 20 m3

The bridge is filled with soil in a natural way. A natural biotope with rainwater, piles of branches and stones create valuable habitats for small animals on the bridge. Many thanks for the great order!

Copyright Photos: ASTRA