Annenberg Wildlife Crossing: Twenty-five letters that reflect years of work and decades of advocacy.
On Tuesday, Caltrans announced that the letters for the world’s largest wildlife crossing, which is under construction over the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills, have officially been placed on the side of the bridge.
The massive wildlife crossing will connect two natural landscapes that have been bisected by one of the nation’s busiest highways, stretching over 200 feet long and 165 feet wide across the roadway.
It’s one of the biggest infrastructure construction projects currently underway in Southern California, and crews have been working around the clock to keep the project on track for its planned opening next year.
Funded through a public-private sponsorship, the Annenberg Wildlife Crossing is named for Wallis Annenberg, philanthropist and heiress who chairs the multibillion-dollar Annenberg Foundation, a primary sponsor of the project.
Other wildlife activist groups have pooled funds to assist in the realization of the project, including those inspired by the story of P-22, the world-famous mountain lion that once inhabited the hills of Griffith Park, and whose story brought attention to the plight of animals who find themselves trapped on all sides by urban sprawl.
The massive undertaking is part of California’s plan to identify locations where animals face barriers that keep them from moving freely, and prioritize building or converting existing infrastructure to allow them to cross more safely. The legislation was signed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom in September 2022.
“This wildlife crossing is just one example of how California is building infrastructure that connects rather than divides,” Newsom said last May. “With projects like this, we’re reconnecting and restoring habitats so future generations can continue to enjoy California’s unmatched natural beauty.”
A groundbreaking was held in spring 2022, but officials say more than 30 years of conservation work has gone into the preparations to connect the critical protected lands in the Santa Monica Mountains and the Sierra Madre Range.
The crossing, originally estimated to cost around $90 million, is located near Liberty Canyon and is expected to open for foot and paw traffic by early 2026.