The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing over the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills is scheduled to open to wildlife on Dec. 2, 2026. Meanwhile, a coyote has already walked the unfinished span, and park scientists have the photos.
The National Park Service announced the opening date and a new camera program in a Nov. 4 news release. As of Nov. 8, 2026, the structure is still a construction site for people.
What the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing is
The crossing is a large planted overpass that spans the 101 and Agoura Road near Liberty Canyon. It aims to reconnect the Santa Monica Mountains with the Simi Hills to the north. Today the freeway cuts between those two areas and carries more than 300,000 vehicles a day.
Four partners lead the project: the National Wildlife Federation, the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, Caltrans and the National Park Service. Construction began in 2022. Earlier project updates had pointed to an earlier finish, so the December date is the one to watch now.
The coyote and the new cameras
On Oct. 28, scientists captured the first photo of an animal on the structure. It was a coyote climbing the southern slope. Then, according to LAist, cameras caught a coyote again early on Thursday, Nov. 5, carrying what looked like a bone or stick. It is unclear whether the two images show the same animal.
Biologists are installing more remote cameras in early November. They will record which species approach, when they cross and how they react. Park scientists already saw bobcats, coyotes, gray foxes, mule deer and mountain lions using a trail next to the site during construction.
Beth Pratt, president of the Wildlife Crossing Fund, said the wildlife “are not waiting for our opening date.”
What it means for residents
You will not be able to watch live. The park service says images will be public, but not in real time, for security reasons. The crossing is also for animals only, although a public viewing platform is planned, according to Fox LA.
The camera work is one piece of a monitoring program with 14 objectives. They cover wildlife use, genetic diversity, vegetation, and light and sound. So the results will arrive over years, not weeks.
Drivers should expect little change on the 101 itself once the crossing opens, because the structure sits above the lanes. For current lane closures elsewhere on the 101, see our guide to the Cahuenga Pass closures. More local coverage is in our science and technology hub.
Also, an opening date can still move. A ceremony date has not been announced in the sources reviewed.