Newport Aquarium in Kentucky will be the first aquarium in North America to add a 100ft (30m) rope bridge crossing its 385,000-gallon shark tank.

Set to open in mid-April, the suspension bridge will hover a few inches above the shark-infested waters which features seven species of sharks, four rare and exotic shark rays, multiple stingrays and more than 300 fish.

“Shark Bridge will be a completely new way to experience sharks and a truly one-of-a-kind attraction available nowhere but Newport Aquarium,” said executive director Eric Rose. “Our diverse collection of sharks is the cornerstone of our more than 90 exhibits, and guests will now be able to experience them like they never have.”

In addition to the bridge, the aquarium will also be adding rare scalloped hammerhead sharks to the tank and will be the only institution in North America to exhibit multiple scalloped hammerhead sharks in its exhibits. Other sharks in the tank include sand tiger, zebra, sandbar, blacktip, whitetip and nurse sharks.

The aquarium also announced plans for Canyon Falls – a new otter attraction coming in March – and the addition of two lizard species from Indonesia and Madagascar.