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First Soil Placed on World’s Largest Wildlife Crossing in California

The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing over the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills marks a critical milestone with soil placement, advancing its mission to reconnect habitats and promote biodiversity.

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First layers of soil and the building of rock features, continue on Monday, March 31, 2025, on the surface of Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing launching what will become a nearly 1-acre native wildlife habitat above ten lanes of the 101 in Agoura Hills. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The cougar known as P-22 featured in an award-winning 2021 photograph before dying after a traffic collision

Overview

  • Crews began placing the first layers of soil on the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing on March 31, 2025, a key step in constructing the world's largest wildlife bridge.
  • The crossing, spanning 10 lanes of the 101 Freeway, will feature a 1-acre habitat with 6,000 cubic yards of soil and 5,000 native plants to support species like mountain lions, deer, and bobcats.
  • The project, launched on Earth Day 2022, is part of a $92-million ecological restoration effort funded by the Annenberg Foundation and other partners, with completion expected in 2026.
  • A dedicated native plant nursery has collected over 1.1 million seeds from more than 50 local species to ensure a sustainable habitat, with broader plans to restore 12 acres of open space.
  • Experts, including soil scientists, biologists, and engineers, are collaborating to address habitat fragmentation and promote biodiversity in the Santa Monica Mountains.