The world’s largest wildlife crossing is getting closer to its much-anticipated opening in Southern California. Rising over the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills, the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing is being built to reconnect wildlife habitat across one of the region’s busiest freeways and give animals a safer route through the Santa Monica Mountains.
Now, another phase of construction is underway — and it comes with a temporary road closure for local travelers.
Agoura Road is closing for two weeks
Caltrans recently announced that Agoura Road will be fully closed between Rondell Street and Hydepark Drive from Thursday, August 27 through Friday, September 11. The closure will be in effect Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The shutdown will allow construction crews to safely remove falsework, the temporary structural supports that have been used during construction of the wildlife crossing. During those weekday work hours, there will be no through traffic of any kind along the closed section. That includes motorists, cyclists and pedestrians, so anyone who regularly uses this stretch of Agoura Road will need to plan around the closure.
For motorists, the posted detour will send traffic onto U.S. Route 101 between Chesebro Road and Liberty Canyon Road. Drivers should expect some delays and follow the detour signs through the area. The closure is weather permitting and could change, so it’s worth checking local traffic conditions before heading out.
Free shuttle for cyclists and pedestrians
People traveling without a car won’t be left completely without an option. Free shuttle service will run every 30 minutes from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on scheduled closure days. The eastbound shuttle will pick up passengers at Dorothy Drive and Chesebro Road and drop them off at Liberty Canyon and Agoura Road. For westbound travel, the shuttle will run in the opposite direction between those same locations.
Why is the wildlife crossing being built?
The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing is designed to reconnect habitat that has been divided by the 101 Freeway. Southern California’s mountain lions, coyotes, bobcats and other wildlife already move through the surrounding communities, but crossing the freeway puts them at serious risk.
The completed bridge will be covered with native vegetation and designed to blend into the surrounding landscape, creating a natural passage over the freeway rather than a conventional concrete overpass. After years of planning and construction, the project is expected to open on December 2, 2026. The current work over Agoura Road is one more step toward completing the enormous crossing and getting it ready for its eventual wild residents.
