Wildlife Crossing Project on the 101 Freeway: Construction and Expected Completion

The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing project is a collaborative effort between various organizations and institutions located at Liberty Canyon and the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills. Key partners in this initiative include Caltrans, the National Park Service, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains, and the National Wildlife Federation.

The primary goal of this wildlife crossing project is to establish a safe and sustainable passage for animals across the 101 Freeway near Liberty Canyon Road in Agoura Hills. This initiative aims to reduce wildlife fatalities, facilitate the movement of animals, and promote genetic exchange. Without a dedicated crossing, the ability for wildlife to move between different natural habitats in the Santa Monica Mountains is severely limited.

Recently announced by Makenna Sievertson, Caltrans will be implementing lane closures on the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills for construction work on the wildlife crossing. Beginning on April 15th, 2024, all southbound lanes of the freeway will be closed for five hours each night. Construction crews will be installing the initial girders, which are large, reinforced concrete boxes that form the foundation of the wildlife crossing structure. These girders will support the crossing’s span across the busy highway.

During construction, drivers should anticipate detours on Liberty Canyon Road from Chesebro to Taft Highway as well as detours on Chesebro Road from Westridge Drive to Taft Highway due to lane closures on those roads leading up to Taft Highway where construction will take place. Groundbreaking for this project took place on Earth Day in 2022 with an anticipated completion date in early 2026. For more information about this project or any other transportation-related matters please refer to caltrans website or contact their customer service line.