Southern California motorists are facing another round of traffic disruptions in Calabasas as crews continue work on what is being billed as the most expensive wildlife bridge ever built.
Calabasas officials said Agoura Road will temporarily shut down between Rondell Street and Hydepark Drive on Friday, with another closure planned for Wednesday.
The roadwork is tied to the $114 million Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, a high-profile conservation project now moving through its final stages of construction.
Drivers are being urged to plan their routes in advance and build in extra travel time, as the closures are scheduled to run from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Officials recommend that motorists use US 101 between Chesebro Road and Liberty Canyon Road and pay close attention to posted detour signs in the area.
Caltrans District 7 said free shuttle service will also be available during the closures, with shuttles operating every 30 minutes from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The latest traffic impacts follow a recent shutdown of the northbound 101 on-ramp at Liberty Canyon as construction on the wildlife crossing continues to advance.
Designed to reconnect habitats divided by major roadways, the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing aims to help “restore ecosystems that had been fractured and disrupted” and provide safer passage for local wildlife.
The project was originally pegged to cost $92 million and finish by 2025.
The National Wildlife Federation launched the #SaveLACougars campaign in 2014 to raise awareness for wildlife crossings after being inspired by P-22, a famous Hollywood mountain lion.
P-22, who died in 2024, safely crossed both the 405 and 101 freeways to reach Griffith Park from the Santa Monica Mountains in 2012.
His death and story helped bring private donations to help with the bridge’s constructions.
The 210-foot-long, 174-foot-wide span is made up of 26 million pounds of concrete and supports up to 4 feet of soil and thousands of native plants.
“The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy & MRCA are excited to enter this last critical phase in making a safe passage for wildlife across the 101 and delivering on our 30 plus years of work to preserve habitat linkages,” said Rorie Skei, Chief Deputy Director with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.
The most recent estimate states the bridge will officially open December 2.
