In an ambitious effort to protect vulnerable species from the dangers of busy roads, construction is advancing on what will become the world's largest wildlife crossing. The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, a £68 million structure, is being built over the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills, northwest of Los Angeles, California.
A Project Decades in the Making
This landmark infrastructure project has been planned for decades, with the primary goal of dramatically reducing wildlife deaths on the major highway. After years of planning, physical work on the site finally commenced in early 2022. Initially, officials hoped for an opening in early 2026, but the launch has now been postponed to November 2026.
The delay is largely attributed to severe weather. Storms that battered the region created significant setbacks during critical construction phases. Beth Pratt, a spokesperson for the project and California's regional director for the National Wildlife Federation, explained the challenges. "[The storms] caused us to have to redo work," she said, noting that contractors had to repeatedly redo soil compaction for the massive supports amidst a "muddy mess."
A Lifeline for Local Wildlife
Despite the nearly year-long delay, the anticipated benefits for local fauna remain undiminished. The crossing is designed to provide a safe corridor for animals, including a fragile population of mountain lions, to move between habitats currently severed by the freeway. Projections are highly optimistic, based on the success of similar structures.
A comparable animal crossing on Interstate 80 near Salt Lake City, Utah, is reported to have reduced animal-vehicle collisions by an impressive 77 per cent. Advocates expect the Wallis Annenberg crossing to deliver similarly life-saving results.
Beth Pratt underscored the project's critical importance: "We found solutions ... we knew we had to find a way because failing wasn’t an option. The future of the area wildlife was at stake, and we could not let this mountain lion population go extinct on our watch."
The Legacy of a Philanthropist
The bridge honours the late philanthropist Wallis Annenberg, who was instrumental in funding and championing the project. Annenberg, a passionate advocate for science, education, and environmental causes, passed away last year at the age of 86.
In a statement to the Los Angeles Times, her family said, "Wallis transitioned peacefully and comfortably this morning to her new adventure. Cancer may have beaten her body but it never got her spirit. We will hold her and her wisdom in our hearts forever."
As climate change and urban development continue to pressure natural habitats, the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing stands as a monumental example of proactive, engineering-led conservation. It represents a growing global recognition that protecting biodiversity requires innovative solutions to help wildlife navigate a human-dominated landscape.
