With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
The Earth Is Moving For The World’s Largest Wildlife Crossing
A closeup view from the construction webcam of the Liberty Canyon Corridor site. After some project delays, bulldozers broke ground on Tuesday.
(
Courtesy Living Habitats and National Wildlife Federation
)
At this time last year, the future site of the world’s largest wildlife crossing was… just a stretch of the 101 in Agoura Hills.
On Tuesday, the same spot was a hive of activity, as bulldozers carved up earth along the roadway to make way for the behemoth piece of infrastructure.
Bulldozers began carving up the side of the 101 Freeway on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022, as part of a major step in the construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing in Agoura Hills.
(
Courtesy Beth Pratt
/
National Wildlife Federation
)
The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing at Liberty Canyon will, upon completion, provide safe passage across the freeway for animals, including endangered mountain lions.
Sponsored message
The 101 is the deadliest freeway for mountain lions in Greater L.A. More of the big cats have been struck and killed on this roadway than any other since the National Park Service began its study of the endangered species in 2002.
The earthwork marks a major milestone for the bridge, which is expected to be completed by 2025.
“I am standing here at the site right now looking at bulldozers going up and down a slope, heavy equipment that I couldn't even dream of driving,” said National Wildlife Federation’s California Executive Director Beth Pratt, who has helped spearhead the project. “People driving by, whether you're on the freeway or side roads, are really going to start seeing a difference.”
(
Courtesy savelacougars.org
)
Pratt said it’s hard to hold back tears when talking about the crossing, but she can still get a laugh at some of the road bumps. Earlier this summer, work had to pause for several days because an acorn woodpecker was nesting on one of the site’s utility poles.
She’s been a champion for the project for over a decade — what’s a few days?
Sponsored message
At LAist, we focus on what matters to our community: clear, fair, and transparent reporting that helps you make decisions with confidence and keeps powerful institutions accountable.
Your support for independent local news is critical. With federal funding for public media gone, LAist faces a $1.7 million yearly shortfall. Speaking frankly, how much reader support we receive now will determine the strength of this reliable source of local information now and for years to come.
This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
That’s why we’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Thank you for understanding how essential it is to have an informed community and standing up for free press.
Your support for independent local news is critical. With federal funding for public media gone, LAist faces a $1.7 million yearly shortfall. Speaking frankly, how much reader support we receive now will determine the strength of this reliable source of local information now and for years to come.
This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
That’s why we’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Thank you for understanding how essential it is to have an informed community and standing up for free press.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
