The world’s largest wildlife crossing is scheduled to open on 2 December 2026 in Agoura Hills, northwest of Los Angeles. The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing will give mountain lions, bobcats and other animals a route over all 10 lanes of US Route 101, reconnecting the Santa Monica Mountains with the Simi Hills.
At Liberty Canyon, the freeway cuts through habitat that animals once moved between freely. For mountain lions in the Santa Monica Mountains, the road has limited their ability to reach potential mates on the other side. The crossing is also intended to reduce collisions with wildlife, protecting both animals and the hundreds of thousands of drivers who use the freeway each day.
The 210-foot (64-metre) span over the freeway is the larger of two linked bridges. A second takes animals over neighbouring Agoura Road, so they can clear both roads in one passage. Together, the structures cover nearly 56,000 square feet (5,200 square metres). Crews have planted oaks and other native vegetation to make the route resemble the habitat on either side. Fencing will guide animals towards the crossing, while barriers will shield them from headlights and traffic noise.
Construction began on Earth Day in 2022. Officials initially hoped to finish in 2025, but heavy rain and flooding delayed the work. The estimated cost rose from $92 million to $114 million, a rise AccuWeather attributed to inflation, labour shortages and the complexity of construction. At Agoura Road alone, crews had to relocate power and telecommunications lines, reroute a regional water main and install concrete supports about 75 feet deep while working around two creeks and dozens of mature oaks.
Project partners have already spotted coyotes and bobcats near the bridge during construction. Once it opens, researchers will be able to compare animal movements with findings from a two-year study that tracked five species before the crossing was available. More than 50 cameras are planned for the bridge and surrounding area. Scientists also plan to fit animals such as deer with devices that record heart rate to see whether they show signs of stress as they cross.
For researchers who have spent decades studying wildlife around Liberty Canyon, one measure of success will be whether animals previously separated by the freeway begin breeding across it. As David Szymanski, superintendent of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, put it, “This forward-looking project will help to end the isolation and reconnect natural habitat.”
