A cougar named Charlie at his new home at Busch Wildlife Sanctuary on April 26, 2024 in Jupiter, Florida. Charlie was rescued by the nonprofit Conservation Ambassadors in California a few years ago when someone attempted to illegally sell him.
Los Angeles, California – California Governor Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday that the final phase of construction has begun on the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, a landmark project that will span U.S. Highway 101 in Agoura Hills and become the largest urban wildlife crossing in the world. Completion is expected by fall 2026.
The project is both ambitious and symbolic—an effort to reconnect fragmented ecosystems in one of the nation’s most car-dependent regions. When finished, the crossing will allow wildlife ranging from mountain lions to mule deer to safely traverse the freeway, while also benefiting the over 300,000 drivers who use the corridor daily by reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions.
“Today, the state is beginning the final phase of construction for what will soon be the largest urban wildlife crossing in the world,” Newsom said. “The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing will soon protect Los Angeles’ native wildlife and over 300,000 drivers daily, as well as provide a cutting-edge model for urban wildlife conservation.”
The final construction phase includes extending the bridge structure over a two-lane road adjacent to the freeway, a technically demanding effort that involves relocating essential utilities, restoring natural water flow, and preserving heritage oak trees native to the region. It also continues an intense coordination effort between Caltrans, state and federal agencies, and private partners.
Earlier construction, completed this year, saw the placement of over 26 million pounds of concrete and 82 bridge girders. Crews installed vegetated sound walls, habitat rocks, and laid 6,000 cubic yards of “living soil” designed to support native vegetation. This fall, over 50 native species will be planted on and around the crossing to reestablish a functional wildlife habitat.
The crossing is a signature example of California’s 30×30 initiative, which aims to conserve 30 percent of the state’s land and coastal waters by 2030. Officials say the bridge is not only about protecting wildlife but also part of a broader vision for how infrastructure and environmental preservation can coexist.
“This project isn’t just about mountain lions or freeway safety,” one Caltrans official said earlier this year. “It’s about rethinking how we live with the natural world.”
Construction updates are available to the public via a live webcam, continuing a tradition of transparency and engagement since Newsom joined the groundbreaking on Earth Day 2022.
