The Fustiès bridge, located in Saint-Victor-Rouzaud, underwent a complete rehabilitation by the Communauté de communes des Portes d’Ariège Pyrénées (CCPAP). The objective was to ensure user safety by replacing the schist slab deck, which showed signs of fragility.
Particular attention was paid to the site's biodiversity, especially a colony of Daubenton's bats (Myotis daubentonii), a protected bat species identified in the cracks of the old structure. With the support of ANA-CEN Ariège, specific measures were implemented to preserve this colony.
Temporary roosts were installed before the work began, and permanent roosts made of durable, untreated Douglas fir, crafted by the association UBAC in Saint-Girons, were put in place after the project's completion. These new shelters aim to encourage the bats' return to the site.
This operation, carried out between November 2025 and January 2026, represents an investment of €83,850. It highlights the CCPAP's commitment to integrating environmental concerns into its development projects, thereby reconciling the demands of construction with biodiversity preservation.
