After years of planning and much anticipation, the world’s largest wildlife crossing is beginning to take shape on Highway 101 in Agoura Hills.
New aerial images released by state transportation officials show the first stages of construction of noise walls and concrete barriers on both sides of the bridge deck, which spans eight lanes of traffic along the Santa Monica Mountains.
Installation of the steel beams was completed in April and crews have since assembled timber formwork and placed rebar in preparation for the concrete pour.
Construction of the $92 million wildlife crossing, officially named the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, began in 2022 and is expected to be completed in early 2026. The 200-foot-long, 165-foot-wide bridge will be the largest of its kind in the world and will serve as a critical lifeline for the many animals that have attempted to cross the busy highway.
Earlier this summer, a mountain lion was killed not far from where the crossing is under construction.
Scientists and conservationists say the wildlife crossing will also be crucial to restoring gene flow between small, isolated cougar populations trapped south of the freeway in the Santa Monica Mountains and cougars confined to the north in the Simi Hills and Santa Susana Mountains.
There are also signs that other animals are already starting to use the crossing, and a native plant nursery is preparing to seed the bridge with salvias, shrubs, milkweed and other local vegetation.
Construction activities are ongoing and Caltrans officials noted that daytime ramp closures may occur intermittently Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the southbound 101 Liberty Canyon Road exit ramp and the northbound 101 Liberty Canyon entrance ramp.
Live traffic updates and road closures can be found at QuickMap.dot.ca.gov.
Webcams are also available on the project website, where you can follow the progress of the work and spot passing wildlife.
