April 15 will not only see the pain of Income Tax Day but the beginning of overnight closures of southbound lanes of the 101 Freeway in Agoura. The Freeway cougar closure will facilitate the placing of beams needed for the Liberty Canyon over crossing according to the Ventura Star.
“Starting April 15, closures of all southbound lanes are expected to run from around midnight to 5 a.m. weekday mornings and to 6 a.m. Saturdays. Some lanes will begin closing as early as 7 p.m. Times and dates, however, are subject to change, the agency said.
A total of 82 girders, or 41 on each side, will stretch from the walls on either side of the freeway to middle support columns. Built in Riverside County, each one weighs from 125 to 140 tons, Caltrans officials said.” (link in original) North bound closures are scheduled for May.
The overnight work is part of the construction of the Wallis P. Annenberg Wildlife Overcrossing in Liberty Canyon. Annenberg was a prime contributor to the public/private venture. The venture began as something of an homage to P-22. That mountain lion (Puma concolor) led a highly public life for a secretive cat. His adventures captivated Los Angeles and spotlighted the dangers wildlife face in Los Angeles. The National Park Service (NPS) has identified traffic as a particularly dangerous threat to mountain lions, deer, bobcats and other creature. The freeway cougar closure is part of a statewide effort to reduce feline and other fatalities on California roads.
The project may be the largest of its kind in the world. The idea of creating traffic safe crossing for animals in now being implemented world wide.
Another less well-known but ambitious overcrossing of the 101 is also in the works for the 101 Freeway farther north.
According to the Los Angeles Times conservationists in the Bay Area are raising funds for a pathway similar to Liberty Canyon. Like the Southern California crossing it will be over the 101 Freeway. That freeway has several dangerous stretches for wildlife and people. A recent “mortality map” showed just how dangerous some roadways are for cougars. Traffic accidents are a serious threat to wildlife. Caltrans and partners are working to make the roads safer.
Internationally the idea of linking jaguar (Panthera onca) habitats has taken a leaf from the California work. Conservationists now realize that simply setting aside parks is not enough. Wild animals must be able to move between populations to prevent inbreeding and local extinction. Santa Monica Mountains cougars have been spotted with kinked tails, a sign of inbreeding, The National Park Service(NPS) says. Nps has been conducting local cougar studies for about 20 years and has collared more than 100 of the large felines.