The Liberty Canyon animal overcrossing is making steady progress according to state officials. The crossing is expected to be complete in 2026. The cougar overcrossing is designed to create a safe passageway for the large cats and other wildlife.
The project is designed in two steps. Phase one should be complete in 2025 and phase 2 in 2026. When complete the overcrossing will feature natural vegetation and features to help entice a great variety of wildlife to use it. Mountain lions, bobcats (Lynx rufus) and Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) are expected to be major beneficiaries.
The cougar overcrossing project has been a public and private cooperative venture. It was started because people realized the plight of Santa Monica Mountain cougars. For about 20 years the National Park Service (NPS) has collared and studied the regional cats. More than 100 have been tagged and many were killed crossing the freeway. The most famous of the cougars, P-22 managed to cross the freeway twice. His fame led to the raising of awareness and funds for the project.
Officially known as the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing after a major donor the Liberty Canyon project is the largest of its kind in the world and is influencing conservation decisions nationally and internationally. The situation is urgent. Almost two dozen cougars (Puma concolor) and one black bear (Ursus americanus) have been killed in recent years. Most animals turn away when confronted by the 10-lane highway. The result has been genetic isolation for the animals. Santa Monica area mountain lions are showing signs of inbreeding as a result. Annenberg has donated $25 million of the $92 million price tag.
CalTrans, the state transportation agency has expedited efforts to save wildlife by mitigating the risks to animals by crossing roadways. No one knows the exact number of animals killed annually in collisions, but the number appears to be enormous. Crashes with deer are responsible for thousands of injuries and deaths. Animals are killed and many people are injured and some die. Property damage is also very great. The new cougar overcrossing is expected to lower the local toll.