Los Angeles’ long-awaited wildlife bridge over the 101 Freeway is only about 10 weeks from its planned debut, yet much of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing in Agoura Hills still has the appearance of an active construction zone.
Fresh images obtained by the California Post capture crews completing the final phase of the $92 million project, with extensive work continuing across and around the massive crossing.
Even so, the California Natural Resources Agency says it remains confident the wildlife overpass will open as scheduled.
“December 2nd remains the date when the Annenberg Wildlife Crossing will be ready for wildlife to cross. The plans include a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the site and a public celebration at King Gillette Ranch, that everyone is invited to attend!,” the organization told The Post.
Meanwhile, a portion of Agoura Road beneath the crossing is expected to be closed on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Nov. 30. MyNewsLA reports that the closures are needed while crews handle bridge construction and backfilling.
If the schedule holds, only two days will separate the end of those closures from the crossing’s much-anticipated opening.
Project officials acknowledge that the work will not be entirely finished by opening day, noting on the crossing’s official website that planting and other final touches will continue afterward.
Caltrans has divided construction into two main phases. The first — the landscaped bridge spanning the 101 Freeway — was completed in June 2025.
The remaining phase involves building the wildlife passage over Agoura Road, moving utilities, completing earthwork and restoring habitat around both the freeway and the road.
The project was initially expected to be finished in 2025, but record-setting rain and flooding across two consecutive spring seasons caused major delays to the construction timeline.
When it opens, the vegetation-covered bridge will reconnect ecosystems split apart by the 101, creating a safer path for mountain lions and other animals moving through the Santa Monica Mountains.
According to Caltrans, the busy freeway has served for years as a formidable obstacle, isolating wildlife populations on opposite sides of the roadway.
Native plants will eventually cover the crossing, helping it merge with the surrounding terrain while giving animals a way to travel between habitats without entering freeway traffic.
The official ribbon-cutting is set for Dec. 2, when King Gillette Ranch will also host a public P-22 Legacy Celebration.
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