Bridging Worlds: How Wildlife Crossings are Transforming Conservation Efforts Across America

U.S. Highway 93 North Wildlife Crossing, Montana.Photo byPinterest

As urban development increasingly encroaches on natural habitats, wildlife faces increasing challenges navigating landscapes broken up by new roads, highways, and housing or commercial construction. Wildlife crossings have become increasingly popular as a modern solution to this pressing issue. These structures are designed to provide safe passage, ensure natural migratory behavior, and enhance human safety by reducing vehicle collisions with animals. One of the most ambitious projects many have been following is the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, currently under construction near Los Angeles.

Rendering of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing.Photo byLiving Habitats and National Wildlife Federation

The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, set to open in early 2026, promises to provide a safe and sustainable passage for mountain lions and other animals over Highway 101, a massive 10-lane freeway. It will be one of the largest urban wildlife crossings in the world.

Plans for the enormous project were established in 2014 and gained significant traction and major fundraising efforts. The partners on board, including the National Wildlife Federation, the Santa Monica Mountains Fund, and the #SaveLACougars campaign, have made this ambitious project a reality through their joint forts. 

Students with NWF President and CEO at the public rally for the #SaveLACougars campaign (2016).Photo byLeigh Wyman

The project is estimated to cost around $90 million, with funding from private donations covering about 60% and the rest coming from public funds set aside for conservation purposes.

Construction broke ground during an Earth Day ceremonial celebration in 2022. The scale of the wildlife crossing is truly impressive; massive concrete girders weighing between 126 and 140 tons will be installed. These beams will serve as critical horizontal supports, connecting two vital biodiversity hotspots in Southern California—the Santa Monica Mountains and the Simi Hills of the Santa Susana mountain range.

Construction crews are now more than halfway through installing the beams that form the crossing. More than 60 beams have been installed.Photo byDean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG

The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing is more than just an engineering marvel; it has significant implications for wildlife conservation and public safety. Every year in the U.S., one to two million collisions occur between vehicles and wildlife, costing more than $8 billion annually and causing approximately 200 human deaths and 26,000 injuries annually. Crossings like this one are crucial in reducing these dangerous encounters by providing a dedicated path for wildlife to traverse busy highways.

Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing Tours Make Headlines (2023).Photo byWallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing

The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing is part of a more significant movement across the United States, where the importance of wildlife passages is increasingly recognized. According to CBS News, about 1,500 wildlife passages have been constructed over and under significant highways and rural roads throughout the country. In good news, in 2023, a federal grant program, ‘The Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program,’ was announced that would award a total of $350 million to states with plans to build wildlife crossings, with the majority of the funds going to rural areas.