On Wednesday, officials involved in building the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing in Agoura Hills revealed the bridge is set to open on December 2nd.
Beth Pratt with the National Wildlife Federation oversees the project. She spoke with KNX News’ Karen Adams about the bridge’s progression.
“It was an idea, we had to raise the money, we had to get the plans, or a lot of the construction was very concrete and rebar,” she said. “But now you're seeing the living habitat, and you're seeing it working.”
Pratt also said she’s already seen wildlife responding to the crossing.
“I've recorded multi-species of butterflies up here,” she said. “We've had, I think, eight species of birds I've recorded up here. We've had redtail hawks and American kestrels fly by. So the wildlife [is] already responding to it even though it's not connected to the landscape.”
Robert Rock with Rock Design Associates told Adams that the crossing is about 60% done, and drivers on the 101 will start to see the work when a lot of soil is brought in the fall.
“As that soil starts becoming the active element on site, you start to build up the sound berms that stretch from all four corners of the structure,” he said.
Rock said that natural sound barriers will help to limit sound and light coming from the freeway, making the crossing more hospitable for wildlife.
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