Wildlife Bridge: Over the A2 in Lucerne

The federal government wants to enable wildlife in the canton of Lucerne to cross the motorway.

A 60-metre-wide wildlife bridge is planned to be built in Langnau near Reiden. The cost is estimated at around 10 million francs.

Three wildlife corridors of supra-regional importance

In the canton of Lucerne, there are three wildlife corridors (WTC) of supra-regional importance that were severed during the construction of the national road in the 1970s. Under the Federal Act on Nature and Cultural Heritage Protection and in alignment with the cantonal structure plan, the Federal Roads Office FEDRO is obliged to restore wildlife corridors and create crossing aids for wildlife. The most important connections between population areas are to be maintained in a nature-friendly manner and, where possible, enhanced from a wildlife biology perspective.

In addition to their supra-regional importance, wildlife corridors provide a vital link for the exchange between the north-eastern and south-western parts of the canton of Lucerne. One of these wildlife corridors runs in a north-south direction through the Neuenkirch area.

Overpass in timber construction

The planned overpass has a usable width for wildlife of 50 metres and spans the A2 over a width of approximately 33 metres with a clearance height of 4.80 metres. To ensure the structure blends well into the landscape, it will be constructed largely in wood. Native timber species such as spruce/fir, oak and larch will be used.

The realisation of the WTC Neuenkirch is planned from 2020 onwards. The costs amount to approximately 10.7 million francs and will be borne by the federal government. More on Environment and Nature Conservation.