52-year-old idea turns Australian bridge into wildlife corridor over motorway

An idea proposed by an Australian park ranger more than five decades ago has finally become a wildlife crossing. In 1974, Royal National Park ranger Bob Crombie suggested using Cawleys Bridge to help animals safely move between areas of bushland separated by a major road. In 2026, the bridge was transformed into a dedicated wildlife corridor above the Princes Motorway in southern Sydney. According to the NSW Government’s Environment and Heritage department, the upgraded bridge reconnects habitat between Heathcote National Park, Garrawarra State Conservation Area and Royal National Park, creating a safer route for koalas, wombats, quolls and other native animals.An idea from 1974Cawleys Bridge was not originally built as a wildlife crossing. The structure was designed as a service bridge, providing access for utilities and road-management activities above the motorway. But shortly after the motorway was built, Crombie recognised that it was creating a significant barrier for wildlife.