Agoura Road Closure Extended For Wildlife Crossing Work

AGOURA HILLS, CA — A section of Agoura Road will remain closed for an additional day Monday due to recent weather and rain during construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing in Agoura Hills, Caltrans announced Friday.

Agoura Road between Rondell Street and Hydepark Drive had been scheduled to reopen after 5 p.m. Friday, but the closure has been extended to Monday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to Caltrans. No weekend closures are planned.

Crews are removing temporary construction supports used in building the wildlife crossing.

Motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians will not be permitted through the closure area during work hours.

Motorists will be detoured onto the Ventura (101) Freeway between Chesebro Road and Liberty Canyon Road, with signs posted along the detour route.

Free shuttle service will be provided for pedestrians and bicyclists every 30 minutes from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday.

Eastbound shuttle passengers can be picked up at Dorothy Drive and Chesebro Road and dropped off at Liberty Canyon Road and Agoura Road. Westbound passengers can board at Liberty Canyon Road and Agoura Road and will be dropped off at Dorothy Drive and Chesebro Road, Caltrans said.

Bus stops within the closure area will also be temporarily relocated.

The crossing spans the Ventura (101) Freeway and will be the largest wildlife crossing of its kind in the world, according to organizers.

The project is intended to reconnect wildlife habitat fragmented by the freeway, allowing mountain lions and other animals to move between areas of the Santa Monica Mountains.

The crossing is the result of decades of wildlife research, planning and engineering and a collaboration involving the National Wildlife Federation, Caltrans, the National Park Service and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, organizers said.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for Dec. 2, when a public celebration will also be held at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas.

City News Service