Amphibian passage

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Amphibious tunnel near Berlin-Buch Tegethof 2006
Amphibious tunnel near Furtwangen
Amphibious tunnel at Diepenbrock Castle in Bocholt
View through the amphibious tunnel at Diepenbrock Castle in Bocholt

Amphibian passages ( colloquially also toad tunnels ) are tubes made of concrete or steel, which are built into the road body as animal crossing aids for amphibians in order to counteract the fragmentation of the landscape by the roads.

In addition to this target group, the passages are also accepted by some types of small mammals, reptiles and invertebrates , among the latter especially types of insects (e.g. various beetles ) and snails . If the tunnel is not only aimed at amphibians, the more general term small animal passage is used.

Requirements for amphibian passages

  • The clear width of the passages must be at least 1 m for a length of up to 20 m. Larger clearances are required for longer openings
  • Crossing aids for amphibians are to be installed approx. Every 30 m in the direction of movement of the animals and equipped with a flat outsole in the passage.

Guidance device

Amphibious guidance systems prevent the animals from having free access to the road and guide them to the passages. The following requirements are placed on control systems:

  • A seamless connection of the control equipment to the culverts is essential.
  • Control systems are to be equipped with climbing protection and an obstacle-free path.
  • Guiding devices must be flush with the ground so that no undermining is possible (undermining protection).
  • A routing of the guiding device parallel to the street must be supplemented by guiding structures arranged at right angles to it at the tunnel openings
  • When new roads are being built, crossing aids for amphibians and small animals must be set up early on and kept ready for use before the road is opened.

Norms and standards

Germany

Austria

Switzerland

  • SN 640 697: Amphibian protection - basic standard
  • SN 640 698: Amphibian protection - project planning
  • SN 640 699: Amphibian protection - measures

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