World’s largest wildlife crossing set to open this fall, price tag climbs
Posted For: Landru
The project expected to become the world’s largest wildlife crossing is facing significant delays and rising costs, driven by severe weather and increased construction expenses linked in part to tariffs imposed under President Donald Trump, according to project leaders who spoke with KTLA.
The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, now under construction over the heavily traveled 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills northwest of Los Angeles, has been planned for decades. Once completed, the bridge will reconnect wildlife habitat between the Santa Monica Mountains and open land to the north, allowing animals such as mountain lions, bears, and deer to cross safely without risking deadly encounters with traffic.
Construction officially began on Earth Day in 2022, with an original completion target of 2025 for the massive structure, which spans roughly 200 feet in length and 165 feet in width. That schedule held until spring 2024, when officials — including California Governor Gavin Newsom — began projecting an opening in early 2026. The expected completion date has since shifted again, with project managers now aiming for November 2026.
Several factors have contributed to the delay.
Uncooperative weather has been one of the biggest challenges. Within a year of groundbreaking, Southern California experienced a series of powerful storms that brought unusually heavy rainfall. The saturated soil disrupted construction as crews were building the bridge’s massive supports and completing critical groundwork.
According to Beth Pratt, California regional director for the National Wildlife Federation and a spokesperson for the project, the storms forced contractors to redo soil compaction work multiple times. The problem worsened during the following winter, which brought even stronger storms. Los Angeles recorded 31 inches of rain in 2023, making it one of the wettest years on record, and the Agoura Hills area typically receives even more rainfall than the city.
In addition to weather issues, the project has required extensive coordination among multiple agencies to relocate utility, water, and telecommunications lines — a complex process that remains ongoing.
Costs have also increased. When Caltrans approved the project in 2021, the budget was set at $92.6 million, supported by funding from the Annenberg Foundation, private donors, state agencies, and federal sources. However, rising material costs tied to tariffs, inflation, and broader economic pressures during President Trump’s second term have driven expenses higher.
Pratt said that as the project entered its second major construction phase in early 2025, prices climbed sharply, forcing managers to tap into reserve funds that had been set aside for overruns. Some design elements have also been adjusted to control costs. The final price tag has not yet been determined.
Despite the setbacks, supporters say the bridge’s purpose remains critical.
Wildlife crossings have proven effective elsewhere. A similar structure over Interstate 80 near Salt Lake City reduced wildlife-vehicle collisions by 77%, according to a Utah State University study. In Southern California, experts say such infrastructure is urgently needed, particularly for mountain lions.
Urban development — especially freeways — has fragmented habitat and limited breeding opportunities, contributing to declining populations and genetic isolation. Many animals are killed attempting to cross roadways.
The story of P-22, the famed “Hollywood mountain lion,” brought widespread attention to the issue. P-22 managed to cross major Los Angeles freeways and live in Griffith Park for years before being struck by a vehicle in 2022 and later euthanized due to severe injuries. His story highlighted the dangers facing California’s mountain lions, which are estimated to number only about 4,500 statewide.
Pratt said the crossing is essential to preventing further losses.
“Failure wasn’t an option,” she said. “The future of the region’s wildlife was at stake, and we could not allow this mountain lion population to disappear on our watch.”
While construction has appeared slow to drivers traveling the 101 Freeway, progress continues. The section spanning the 10-lane freeway is largely complete, and crews have begun adding native soil and vegetation to the top of the bridge so animals will feel secure using it.
The final phase — extending the structure over Old Agoura Road and fully reconnecting it to the surrounding hills — is expected to be the most technically challenging. The public can monitor progress through live webcams available on the project’s official website.
Before her death last year at age 86, philanthropist Wallis Annenberg, whose support helped make the project possible, reflected on its broader significance.
“Wildlife crossings restore ecosystems that have been fractured and disrupted,” she said. “They reconnect lands and species that long to be whole. These crossings represent not just conservation, but a long-overdue renewal of our environment.”
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