The GuardianThe Guardian

Imagine cruising down a 10-lane highway and knowing that a mountain lion is on its way. The world's largest wildlife overpass is about to begin construction this month, and this remarkable image could soon be reality for drivers on one of California's busiest roads.

A green bridge will be built across the 101 highway near Los Angeles to create a corridor between two parts of the Santa Monica mountains. The overpass will allow for safe passage for lizards, snakes, toads and mountain lions, with an acre of local plants on either side and vegetated sound walls to keep out the light and noise of nocturnal animals.

The project is almost a decade old and comes at a crucial time. The protected mountain lions and other animals are forced to make dangerous crossing because of the highways in the landscape. Since 2002, at least 25 big cats have been killed on Los Angeles freeways. A young lion was struck and killed on the Pacific Coast highway on 23 March.

Beth feels like she is running the last mile of a marathon. I am a little dizzy, but I feel relieved that we have the chance to give these mountain.

A rendering of the wildlife bridge crossing, which will feature native plants and vegetated walls.
A rendering of the wildlife bridge crossing, which will feature native plants and vegetated walls. Photograph: AP

On Earth Day, 22 April, a ceremony will be held to mark the start of construction for the $90m crossing. The project isn't expected to be complete until early 2025.

Private donations will cover about 60 percent of the bridge's price tag, with the rest coming from public funds. The project is an inspiring example of public-private partnerships.

‘A symbol of connection’

It is the largest crossing in the world, stretching over 10 lanes of one of the busiest roads in the country, and it is also an engineering marvel. Big cats, coyotes, deer, lizards, snakes and other creatures are a safe way to travel to different parts of open territory in the Santa Monica mountains.

This is restoring a piece of lost habitat, putting it back across the mountains

Robert Rock, architect

Robert Rock, a landscape architect with Living Futures in Chicago who led the design, says this nature-centered type of construction makes it unusual among other wildlife bridges and underpasses around the world, which are typically made of cement and steel. This one is designed to glide into the environment on both sides and send a message to the people driving below.

A mycologist and a soil scientist are part of his team, who are studying the fungi of the area and how they can help the seamless flow of plants and animals across the overpass. There will be docents near the overpass. According to 888-548-5870 888-548-5870 888-548-5870, planting poison oak and posting signs about rattlesnakes are effective tools to keep humans off the bridge.

The investment could serve as a precedent for how design can play a role in the natural world.

Approximately 300,000 cars pass through this area each day, and it's an opportunity for millions of Angelenos to see how humans can live more harmoniously with nature.

The plight of the region's mountain lions caught the attention of donors from around the world. People sent money. A couple from Kansas donated over $600,000. The Leonardo DiCaprio foundation contributed $300,000. The local celebrity mountain lion P22, whose exploits around the city have captured headlines, is believed to be the catalyst for it all.

P22 lives in a part of Los Angeles far east of the mountain range, so he won't actually be the intended user of this crossing. His symbol helped raise money for the bridge. Most of the area's 100 mountain lions live in the area that the bridge will span.

The scientists say that animals have a learning curve and will slowly explore the bridge. It may take up to five years for wary creatures to use the crossing successfully. Smaller prey species are more adapted to the new territory.

It is more than just a solution for P22 to get across the road.

More projects in the future

The world and the country are seeing an increase in wildlife crossing. A study in Canada's national park of more than 40 wildlife underpasses and overpasses found a reduction in wildlife-vehicle accidents, which saved the park money.

The stretch of Highway 101 where groundbreaking is set to begin in April 2022.
The stretch of Highway 101 where groundbreaking is set to begin in April 2022. Photograph: John Antczak/AP

The wildlife science and infrastructure communities have come together to understand the problem. $350m was earmarked for animal-friendly infrastructure in the infrastructure bill by Joe Biden.

The project struggled to raise money early on. The team was able to find people who were aware of the importance of the project.

She was told the project shouldn't be done or that we shouldn't waste money on saving mountain lions in an urban area.

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