More big cats, coyotes, deer, lizards, snakes, and other creatures can safely roam in the Santa Monica Mountains of Los Angeles, thanks to the <a href="https://ktla.com/news/local-news/groundbreaking-set-for-worlds-largest-wildlife-crossing-over-101-fwy-near-l-a/">world’s largest wild animal crossing that is slated to be completed by early 2025.</a>This bridge over a major Southern California highway will provide better access to food and potential mates to animals hemmed in by urban sprawl.

“Crossings like this are nothing new,” Beth Pratt from the National Wildlife Federation said, noting there is one outside Yosemite for toads. “This one’s historic because we’re putting it over one of the busiest freeways in the world.”The bridge will be the first of its kind near a major metropolis and the largest in the world, stretching 200 feet (61 meters) above 10 highway lanes and a feeder road just 35 miles (56 kilometers) northwest of downtown LA.

The $90 million project cost will be covered by about 60% private donations, with the rest coming from public funds allotted for conservation purposes. The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing was named after the philanthropist whose foundation donated $25 million.To further highlight the importance of the project, mountain lion P-22 became the star of the fundraising campaign. The big cat was known to have traveled across two freeways and made a huge Los Angeles park his home — it became a symbol of the shrinking genetic diversity of wild animals because of environmental risks.

The topography of the bridge was designed by architects to be indistinguishable from the scenery on either side. Sound and light from the lanes below will be blocked by berms and hollows.The draft environmental impact document of this Los Angeles-area bridge received nearly 9,000 comments — with only 15 opposed, according to the wildlife federation. The universal support for and response to this project are overwhelmingly positive.Image and video credit: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkH1uDkyuO9sVjSqdqBygOg">CBS Los Angeles</a>#wildlife #crossing #bridge