Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, a unique new bridge across the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills being built just for mountain lions and other wildlife, is currently on track to open by early 2026. When completed, it will be the world’s largest wildlife crossing.
His official news site reported that the governor has “also announced that construction crews are now more than halfway through installing the beams that form the crossing. The work is part of Governor Newsom’s infrastructure agenda to build more, faster.”
His office also noted that the 12th annual Infrastructure Week is the week of May 13, 2024.
The heavily landscaped bridge for animals will cross above all 10 lanes of the 101 Freeway, providing a safe connection for big cats and other wildlife to travel between the Santa Monica Mountains and the open lands to the north that contain a genetically diverse population of mountain lions. One hope is that by helping local cougars mingle with cougars from more remote areas, the unhealthy inbreeding that has swept through the local population will be diminished.
Last month, the first of 82 large concrete beams went up over the 101 Freeway at Liberty Canyon Road. The crossing will stretch 210 feet over 10 lanes of the 101.
