8 December 2020

A final piece in the bushfire recovery effort along the Oxley and Pacific highways has been put in place, with new rope canopy bridges allowing local wildlife to more safely cross two of the state's busiest road corridors.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said the new bridges replaced the ones damaged by bushfires last summer, and built upon the NSW Government's long commitment to protect wildlife along the state's road corridors.

"Animals like possums and gliders use these bridges to access food, water and mates on the other side of the highways, but were unable to do so after last year’s bushfire season when several of the structures caught fire," Mr Toole said.

"Transport for NSW has reinstated the bridges on the Oxley Highway, about two kilometres east of the Pacific Highway interchange at Port Macquarie, and the Pacific Highway, about one kilometre south of Johns River.

"Research shows these rope canopy bridges are used regularly by some of Australia's most endangered species, so it's vital we ensure safe travel for them, as well as for the motorists who use these highways every day.

"The local wildlife suffered during last summer's bushfires, so I'm glad we've been able to restore the bridges to help protect some of our most endangered species."

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