A key northbound on-ramp to U.S. Highway 101 in Calabasas, California, is temporarily closed during weekday daytime hours as construction on the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing approaches completion. The closure affects the Liberty Canyon on-ramp from Monday through Friday, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Motorists seeking to access the northbound 101 are directed to continue south on Liberty Canyon Road, then west on Agoura Road, before heading north on Chesebro Road/Palo Comado Canyon Road. Agoura Road is expected to remain open for through traffic, though intermittent delays may occur as work progresses.
The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing is designed to reconnect fragmented ecosystems and provide safe passage for wildlife disrupted by extensive roadways. The project's significant cost has drawn criticism, with its estimated $114 million price tag considerably higher than other wildlife crossings.
Originally projected to cost $92 million and be completed by 2025, the project's budget has escalated. The crossing is a substantial structure, measuring 210 feet long and 174 feet wide, built with 26 million pounds of concrete and supporting four feet of soil and native plants.
The initiative gained momentum following the story of P-22, a mountain lion known as the "Hollywood Cat," who famously traversed the 405 and 101 freeways to reach Griffith Park from the Santa Monica Mountains in 2012. P-22's journey and subsequent death in 2024 highlighted the challenges wildlife face and spurred private donations for the crossing's construction. The National Wildlife Federation's #SaveLACougars campaign, launched in 2014, also played a role in raising awareness.
Critics have pointed to other wildlife crossing projects with significantly lower costs. For instance, Banff National Park in Canada has constructed an extensive network of overpasses and underpasses for tens of millions of dollars less than the Wallis Annenberg project. Similarly, the Parleys Canyon wildlife overpass in Utah cost approximately $5 million, and the Snoqualmie Pass crossing in Washington state was completed for $6.2 million.