Sustainable Wildlife Crossing in Koppigen
In the north of the municipality of Koppigen, the Federal Roads Office ASTRA is constructing a wildlife crossing that spans both the motorway and the cantonal road. Over the course of approximately two weeks, 50 wooden beams will be lifted into place above the motorway during night-time operations.
In the north of the municipality of Koppigen, the Federal Roads Office ASTRA is currently constructing a new wildlife crossing that spans the A1 motorway as well as the cantonal road between Koppigen and Recherswil.
The wildlife crossing is being built as a timber structure with concrete foundations. It will be supported by two abutments at either end and a central support structure located between the motorway and the cantonal road.
Timber as a sustainable building material
Work to lift the wooden beams into position began on the night of Sunday to Monday. The motorway is closed each night for this purpose. Each night, up to seven wooden beams with a span of 37 m and a weight of 17.5 tonnes are lifted into place. In this way, 50 wooden beams will be installed over the course of two weeks. Susanne Bachmann, project manager at ASTRA's responsible infrastructure branch in Thun, explains: “The schedule is extremely tight. We have just under 40 minutes per beam in order to reopen the motorway by 5 a.m.” Such a rapid installation is possible because ASTRA has chosen timber as the building material for this wildlife crossing, as a timber structure can be installed considerably faster than a concrete one. A timber structure also supports ASTRA's commitment to sustainable development. Timber generates less CO2 than concrete and conserves resources. Approximately 2’500 m3 of Swiss timber will be used for the wooden structure. This quantity grows back within two hours.
For wildlife overpasses in particular, ASTRA is increasingly turning to wood as a building material. “Last year we were able to open a wooden wildlife overpass near Mühleberg, and this year another wooden overpass will open here in Koppigen,” says Andri Sinzig, Head of Project Management North at ASTRA's Thun branch.
Further Programme
Until 4 July 2025, the wooden beams will be lifted into place over the motorway during night work. In the following week, the beams will be lifted over the cantonal road, which can take place during the day. The embankments on both sides will then be constructed and the overpass designed to closely resemble a natural environment, so that wildlife can cross the motorway in a familiar setting. Work will be completed by the end of 2025, with certain landscaping work to be carried out in spring 2026.
Restoration of Wildlife Corridors
Across Switzerland, 41 supra-regional wildlife corridors are interrupted by national roads. A programme to restore these wildlife corridors is underway in collaboration with FOEN. 97 % of wildlife corridors have been restored, are under construction or are in the planning stage (as of July 2024).
The A1 near Koppigen interrupts two wildlife corridors, BE 8 and SO 3, which connect the Jura and Pre-Alps habitats. The wildlife overpass is being built so that animals such as wild boar, red deer, pine martens and others can move freely once again.
