Extended 14-hour road closure in effect in Agoura Hills for wildlife crossing construction
AGOURA HILLS, Calif. (KABC) -- A critical 14-hour road closure is underway in Agoura Hills as crews pour concrete for the massive wildlife crossing over the 101 Freeway.
The closure took effect at 7 a.m. Friday and will last through 9 p.m. The stretch of Agoura Road between Rondell Street and Hydepark Drive is closed weekdays during the ongoing construction, but those hours were extended for Friday.
Drivers will be diverted onto the 101 Freeway, and shuttle buses will run every 30 minutes to help the public bypass the gridlock. Daily weekday closures will continue through Sept. 1.
The concrete pour is the latest step toward completing the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, which will serve as a way for wildlife to safely cross over from either side of the freeway.
Research behind the project has identified the 101 as the most significant barrier to ecological health in the area.
Officials say the project will not only protect animals, but also drivers on the roadway.
"It's not the environmental component of this project. It's the human cost. Vehicle-wildlife collisions are an $8 billion a year problem in the United States," said Robert Rock, with Rock Design Associates. "Crossings like this help to solve that issue."
Once finished, the overall crossing will be the largest bridge of its kind in the world. It's expected to be completed in the fall of 2026.
