In Los Angeles County, a 64-meter-long bridge is set to be completed in 2025, spanning an eight-lane highway. This ambitious project aims to address the issue of animal-human conflict, with over one million collisions occurring between wild animals and vehicles in the United States each year, resulting in 200 deaths and 26,000 injuries for drivers and passengers. The world’s largest wildlife overpass is being constructed across Highway 101 in Los Angeles County to provide safe passage for various species including mountain lions, bobcats, deer, and more.
Named the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, this $92 million project is a collaboration between multiple entities such as Caltrans, the National Park Service, and the National Wildlife Federation. Groundbreaking for the project took place on Earth Day two years ago, and recently the first bridge section was placed above the highway. Construction teams will continue to install concrete beams weighing between 126-140 tons, with the finished overpass spanning over 8 lanes of traffic and filled with vegetation to attract wildlife.
While the bridge will benefit various animals, there is particular hope that it will improve the lives of mountain lions in the region. Due to the presence of freeways in Los Angeles, mountain lions have difficulty moving freely, leading to inbreeding and health issues. The story of a famous mountain lion named P-22, which faced many challenges due to urbanization, has inspired support for the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing project.
This project highlights the importance of creating safe passages for wildlife in urban areas, allowing them to move freely and maintain genetic diversity. It also serves as a reminder of the impact of human development on wildlife populations and the need to find solutions to mitigate these effects.