A bridging device (10) for providing a bridging surface (12) between two points comprising a stack of interjoined beams (14) housed in a retracted position in a housing (11) mounted at a first point; and a drive system that drives the beams (14) to slide one over the other to telescopically extend out of the housing (11) from the retracted position to an extended position to thereby form a bridging surface (12) to a second point.