{"id":209074,"date":"2022-04-11T12:00:25","date_gmt":"2022-04-11T11:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=209074"},"modified":"2022-04-11T04:44:59","modified_gmt":"2022-04-11T03:44:59","slug":"animal-crossing-worlds-biggest-wildlife-bridge-comes-to-california-highway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2022\/04\/animal-crossing-worlds-biggest-wildlife-bridge-comes-to-california-highway\/","title":{"rendered":"Animal Crossing: World\u2019s Biggest Wildlife Bridge Comes to California Highway"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Unprecedented overpass will allow fauna of the Santa Monica mountains to safely cross a dangerous 10-lane stretch.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Rendering of the Wallis Annenberg wildlife crossing, which will span a busy section of highway near Los Angeles, allowing animals to pass safely.
Photograph: Living Habitats and National Wildlife Federation.<\/p><\/div>\n

9 Apr 2022 – <\/em>I<\/span><\/span>magine cruising down a 10-lane highway and knowing that, high above your head, a mountain lion is quietly going along its way. This remarkable image could soon be reality for drivers on one of California\u2019s busiest roads, as the world\u2019s largest wildlife overpass begins construction this month.<\/span><\/p>\n

The history-making project will comprise a green bridge built across the 101 highway near Los Angeles<\/a>, creating a corridor between two parts of the Santa Monica mountains. Stretching 210ft long and 165ft wide, the overpass will allow safe passage for lizards, snakes, toads and mountain lions, with an acre of local plants on either side and vegetated sound walls to dampen light and noise for nocturnal animals as they slip across.<\/p>\n

The project, nearly a decade in the making, comes at a crucial time. Highways in this car-heavy landscape crisscross critical habitat for the protected mountain lions and other animals, forcing them to make what can be deadly crossings. At least 25 of the big cats have been killed on Los Angeles freeways since 2002. The latest death was just weeks ago, on 23 March, when a young lion was struck and killed<\/a> on the Pacific Coast highway.<\/p>\n

Beth Pratt, an urban ecologist with the National Wildlife<\/a> Federation, feels as if she is running the last mile of a marathon. Pratt has spent most of the last decade planning the project, persuading transportation officials of its importance, and bringing together stakeholders and donors to fund it. \u201cI\u2019m a little dizzy still, but I feel relieved: we have the chance to give these mountain lions a shot at a future.\u201d<\/p>\n

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A rendering of the wildlife bridge crossing, which will feature native plants and vegetated walls. Photograph: AP<\/p><\/div>\n

A groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction for the $90m crossing \u2013 called the Wallis Annenberg wildlife crossing \u2013 will take place on Earth Day, 22 April. Construction will mostly happen at night and the project isn\u2019t expected to be complete until early 2025.<\/p>\n

The bridge\u2019s price tag will be covered by about 60% private donations, with the rest coming from public funds set aside for conservation purposes. California\u2019s Governor Gavin Newsom has called the project an \u201cinspiring example\u201d of public-private partnership.<\/p>\n

\u2018A symbol of connection\u2019<\/h2>\n

The project is breaking the mold in many ways: not only is it the largest crossing in the world, stretching over 10 lanes of one of the busiest roadways in the country, but it\u2019s also an engineering marvel. The crossing is designed to seamlessly integrate into the mountains, offering big cats, coyotes, deer, lizards, snakes and other creatures a safe way to travel to different parts of open territory in the Santa Monica mountains recreation area \u2013 a 150,000-acre space.<\/p>\n