Through a section of the US-101 highway in Agoura Hills, the “world’s largest wildlife crossing” project is set to begin construction in the coming weeks.
According to a notice issued by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) on the evening of April 14, starting from April 15, all southbound lanes of the 101 highway from Cheseboro Rd. to Liberty Cyn Rd. will be closed from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. every Monday to Friday.
During the closure, over 80 large beams will be placed above the highway, extending from the central median to the shoulder, to lay the foundation for the construction of the wildlife bridge. This process is expected to take several weeks to complete.
In order to minimize traffic congestion, alternative routes have been provided for drivers. For instance, drivers can choose to use the 118 highway to the north of the closed section to bypass Agoura Hills and the Calabasas area.
As construction progresses, the transportation authority plans to close the northbound lanes of the same section again in the fall for the next phase of work.
Experts believe that obstacles on the 101 highway pose a significant threat to wildlife in the vicinity of the Santa Monica Mountains. The solution is to build a wildlife crossing over the highway in areas north and south of the 101 highway that are protected lands.
The entire project is expected to be completed by late 2025 or early 2026.