A BIRD’S eye view of the innovative ‘green bridge’ across the new A556 bypass shows the project blooming into life, almost a year after the road opened.

The £1.15 million bridge was used as the site of the official opening ceremony for the road at the start of March, and has since transformed into a green border providing safe passage for badgers, voles and other small mammals, insects and birds.

West of Mere, the bridge links two habitats separated by the new, £192 million dual carriageway between the M56 and M6.

Highways England project manager Paul Hampson said: “The green bridge was the centre-piece of our work to ensure the new A556 was the most environmentally-friendly road Highways England has ever built.

“We are delighted the planting has really taken hold and we’re looking forward to watching the bridge bloom for many years to come.”

Constructing the bridge cost about £890,000 with a further £273,000 on ‘greening work’ on the deck, which included planting trees, shrubs and grasses.

The old A556 has also been ‘greened’ and turned into a £5 million B road with dedicated route for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders featuring a raised earth border , planted with wild flowers, to separate it from road traffic.

The project’s green measures earned it a prestigious Green Apple Award for Environmental Best Practice last year.