The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, located at Liberty Canyon and the 101 Freeway, is a collaborative effort between various organizations and institutions, including Caltrans, the National Park Service, and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy among others. The goal of the project is to provide a safe passage for wildlife across the freeway near Liberty Canyon Road in Agoura Hills. This will help reduce wildlife deaths and promote genetic exchange among animals in the Santa Monica Mountains.
The project began on Earth Day in 2022 and is expected to be completed by early 2026. To achieve this, Caltrans will be closing all southbound lanes of the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills for five hours each night starting on April 15, 2024, to complete construction on the wildlife crossing. Crews will be installing the first girders, a reinforced concrete structure that will serve as the base level of the crossing. These girders will support the structure’s horizontal reach across the busy highway.
While the closure will extend from Liberty Canyon to Chesebro roads, northbound lanes will remain open and detours will be available for drivers. The project aims to reduce traffic congestion and improve safety on the busy highway while providing a safe passage for wildlife that currently face danger when trying to cross it. For more information about this exciting project or its impact on local wildlife and commuters alike, please refer to Makenna Sievertson’s original article on this topic.
