The largest wildlife bridge in the world, which spans 10 lanes of the 101 Freeway, is almost finished.

The largest wildlife bridge in the world, which spans 10 lanes of the 101 Freeway, is almost finished.

      National Wildlife Federation

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      Three years after construction commenced, it’s time to cover the project with soil. Specifically, 6,000 cubic yards of a "super" soil, followed by the planting of 5,000 native plants. This refers to the world’s largest wildlife crossing, which has achieved another construction milestone as the bridge approaches completion.

      This prepared soil marks the nearing end of construction for the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, which began on Earth Day in 2022. Situated in Agoura Hills, California, the nearly one-acre overpass spans a 10-lane section of U.S. 101.

      The physical structure of the bridge is essentially finished, having used 26 million pounds of concrete, according to Beth Pratt from the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), who spoke with KCAL. The NWF Regional Executive Director mentioned, “We just put the soil on top, and then we start burying utility lines and extending it over the access road.”

      Creating a wildlife habitat on the overpass will require multiple layers of soil, and the soil application alone will take several weeks. However, once the Annenberg Wildlife Crossing is completed, the bridge will reconnect the separated areas of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. With over 150,000 acres, SMMNRA is the nation’s largest urban national park. Unfortunately, the freeways have long divided local wildlife, including butterflies, cottontails, bobcats, and mountain lions.

      Research as far back as the 1980s identified the Liberty Canyon area as a critical point for wildlife. However, it was only after the National Park Service initiated a lengthy study of the mountain lion population in the region that the 101 freeway was recognized as “the most significant barrier to the ecological health of the area.”

      More than 300,000 vehicles travel along U.S. 101 each day. That amount of traffic can induce anxiety in drivers; imagine the stress for local wildlife trying to cross the road in search of food.

      P-22, possibly the most well-known mountain lion both in Hollywood and beyond, surprised many by crossing highways independently. He became a symbol for the “Save L.A. cougars” initiative. Sadly, he was euthanized in late 2022 after being found with severe injuries, likely resulting from a vehicle collision, along with various other health issues.

      Mountain lions are the primary conservation focus of this wildlife bridge. Being territorial, these big cats have their roaming range and biodiversity limited by freeways. Without the crossing to allow for habitat expansion, Southern California cougars could face extinction within 50 years. They also continue to fall victim to vehicle collisions.

      "In the Liberty Canyon area where we’re constructing the crossing, we’ve had four mountain lions killed in just the last four years," Pratt noted.

      The bridge will not only provide access to more food, shelter, and mates, but it will also serve as an escape route from wildfires and other disasters. The Annenberg Wildlife Crossing is expected to be completed next year.

The largest wildlife bridge in the world, which spans 10 lanes of the 101 Freeway, is almost finished. The largest wildlife bridge in the world, which spans 10 lanes of the 101 Freeway, is almost finished.

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The largest wildlife bridge in the world, which spans 10 lanes of the 101 Freeway, is almost finished.

With the physical construction completed, the project progresses to the planting phase. The one-acre habitat bridge will link previously isolated wildlife regions of the Santa Monica Mountains.