Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing aims for December 2026 opening

The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, a massive infrastructure project spanning 10 lanes of the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills, is scheduled for completion on December 2, 2026. Designed to provide a lifeline for mountain lions in the Santa Monica Mountains, the crossing will be the largest in the world, measuring 210 feet long and 174 feet wide.

Construction progress includes a completed concrete bridge and the planting of 6,000 native plants. However, project leaders noted that heavy rainfall or El Niño weather patterns could delay the final stages, specifically the process of filling gaps with millions of cubic feet of soil, as wet clay and silt can become dangerously slick and difficult to compact.

The project has faced criticism regarding its rising costs and delays. Originally estimated at $90 million in 2022, the budget has increased to $114 million due to inflation and weather-related setbacks. Some local residents have questioned the use of public funds for the project, comparing it to smaller, less expensive wildlife crossings in other regions like Colorado.