Major road closed for $114M wildlife crossing construction with delays expected

More headaches are in store for Southern California drivers with the closure of a major Calabasas road to make way for construction on the world’s most expensive wildlife bridge.

The temporary closure of Agoura Road between Rondell Street and Hydepark Drive occurs on Friday and again on Wednesday, the city of Calabasas announced this week.

Aerial view of the Annenberg Wildlife Crossing over a highway, with ongoing construction on the left. — The $114 million Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing in Calabasas.

Illustration of Agoura Road full closure and detour. — A full closure of Agoura Road was announced to accommodate construction work on the bridge. Caltrans

The closure comes as work is being completed on the $114 million Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing.

Authorities told commuters to plan ahead and allow extra time while traveling, with the closure taking place between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

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Motorists are being advised to use US 101 between Chesebro Road and Liberty Canyon Road and follow posted detour signs.

Aerial view of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing over the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills, California, with construction on an adjoining road and hills in the background. — The wildlife crossing is meant to “restore ecosystems that had been fractured and disrupted” by reconnecting wildlife cut off by roads. CalTrans District 7

Free shuttle service will also be offered during the scheduled closures, with shuttles running every 30 minutes from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m, Caltrans District 7 announced.

The work follows a recent closure of the northbound 101 on-ramp on Liberty Canyon, as work progresses on the crossing.

The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing is meant to “restore ecosystems that had been fractured and disrupted” by reconnecting wildlife cut off by roads.

Construction crew loading pallets of native plants for landscaping the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing. — The work follows a recent closure of the northbound 101 on-ramp on Liberty Canyon. AP

Aerial view of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing over the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills, California. — The project was originally pegged to cost $92 million and finish by 2025. CalTrans District 7

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.

P-22, a mountain lion, walking at night during a Griffith Park study. — The famous mountain lion P-22 safely crossed both the 405 and 101 freeways to reach Griffith Park from the Santa Monica Mountains in 2012. Friends of Griffith Park

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.