Main Roads WA erects first rope bridge to help endangered possums and phascogales cross a busy Albany road

Why did the possum cross the road?

Because it had the benefit of its very own rope bridge spanning one of Albany’s major roads, allowing it to make the journey safely.

The fauna crossing, which has been constructed above Hanrahan Road, is one of five to be installed on or near Menang Drive between Link Road and Carlisle Street.

The aim is to help fauna including western ring-tailed possums, the common brushtail possum and the endangered brush tailed phascogale to cross safely into the bushland on either side of the road.

Cameras installed at a similar facility in Bunbury have recorded up to 12 possums per night making the crossing.

Providing this first crossing was one of the conditions set when Main Roads WA was applying for a clearance permit as part of the Albany Ring Road project.

The requirements for safe crossing points and the best locations for them were identified through consultations with local environmental organisations, including the Torbay Catchment Group.

The Torbay group was commissioned to undertake a possum survey to see how many were in the area and it has been monitoring the progress of the new crossing.

Project officer Christian Knapp said the rope bridge would help prevent roadkill and assist the fauna in finding new vegetation and breeding grounds.

Andrew Duffield, regional manager of Main Roads WA in the Great Southern, said his organisation had installed cameras to monitor the use of the bridge.

“Monitoring of similar rope bridge installations in Busselton and Bunbury has demonstrated the crossings are used repeatedly by fauna,” he said.

“It’s important the populations can mix on both sides of the carriageway because we don’t want genetic stagnancy — inbreeding — because of the road.”

The works were due to finish on Monday, September 22, with the remaining four crossings to be installed during the summer.

While the first crossing was contingent on the clearance application, the others are a Main Roads initiative.