The world's largest wildlife bridge, which has cost £84.5 million and faced multiple delays, finally has an opening date. The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing over the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills, north of Los Angeles, will open on December 2, project leaders announced on Earth Day.
Project Overview and Delays
Work has been underway on the bridge for four and a half years. The project was initially set to be completed by 2025 but was pushed back by at least a year due to spiralling costs and building delays. The main section of the bridge, spanning 10 lanes of the freeway, is largely completed and landscaped. Remaining work includes building over Agoura Road and connecting both ends to open space.
Project leaders said near-record rainfall in 2023 and 2024 saturated the site, delaying construction. Costs also rose due to inflation, labour shortages, and the project's complexity. The total cost climbed from an initial $90 million (£66.5 million) to $114 million (£84.5 million), funded through private donations and public funds.
Wildlife Response and Goals
The bridge aims to provide safe passage for wildlife, particularly mountain lions, whose population in the area is genetically isolated. Other animals frequently hit by cars, such as bears, bobcats, foxes, coyotes, and deer, will also benefit. Beth Pratt, California's regional director for the National Wildlife Federation, has already observed wildlife using the bridge. She told KNX News Radio: "I've recorded multiple species of butterflies up here. We've had eight species of birds. Red-tailed hawks and American kestrels fly by, so wildlife are already responding to it, even though it's not connected to the landscape."
Addressing Criticism
The project has faced criticism over its cost and delays. In a blog post, project leaders defended the endeavour, stating: "The criticism often flattens a far more complicated reality. This is not a standard overpass. Engineers are effectively building a living ecosystem over 10 lanes of one of the busiest freeways in the country." They added: "Projects of this scale should be questioned, audited, and debated—especially when it's the public's money being used. But they should also be judged on their purpose. In a region where wildlife populations face genetic isolation and frequent freeway deaths, doing nothing carries its own cost." The post concluded: "The real question is not whether the crossing is ambitious—it clearly is. It's whether Southern California is willing to invest in repairing the environmental missteps that made the project necessary in the first place."
