lane on the San Diego Freeway (I-405) from Santa Suh is part of the project team that will soon start stewardship," said Liz Suh, a Department of "Taking care of our natural - the animals, resources trees and the natural wild lands - is part of our construction. and safely in their natural wild lands of the during and after four years of new on-ramp. provisions to ensure animals can reach thei pathway there. The freeway wi remarked Suh, who explained that a projec possums and other animals crossing near the Getty (Museum) View Trailhead," "We are planning an eight-foot high culver environmental planner. and unrestricted in their travels," said Kr and other or Park Service, the “ We're working Mountains Conservancy, the closely with the Santa Monica National LA City streets, and reconstruct 25 ramps. 101). The $1.034 will remove and billion project replace 3 major bridges, widen 13 bridges, spanning over Protecting Animal Crossings On The I-405 Sepulveda Pass Widening Project dening project, still in the design phase, has istin Caltrans associateFusello, another hundreds of other animals in the wilderness can roam freely Widening Project is designing plans to ensure the bobcat and The Metro and Caltrans team building the I-405 Sepulveda Pass due to the vegetation and tall grass. the uplands of Sepulveda Ridge which way it came, to favors days the bobcat, tired of its journey, returned, probably the same through the bobcat’s natural roaming lands. Within a couple of interstate highway which in the The bobcat traveled westerly to wander on the other side of the top of dirt embankment under the 405 Freeway. Monica mountain trail past Sepu At nightfall the loped down from Santa stealthy bobcat t for the bobcat and coyotes, raccoons, ganizations to help keep the animals safe r natural habitats on either side of the ted on-ramp will be built over the wildlife construction of the northbound high occupancy vehicle Monica Freeway (I-10) to Transportation associate environmental planner. early 1960s had divided and cut lveda Boulevard, creeping along lveda Boulevard, the Ventura Freeway (U.S.

ment. Additionally, high co a three-foot the wildlife to new over cars and pedestrians, by scurrying along the far side of span. to funnel A perimeter fence will be constructed Animals already share Skirball Center Drive Bridge, located a locations where an construction impact at two other In the face of this huge public works assignment, new ramp according to Suh. easy crossing. Other fences near ramps may be modified will alter both the steep slope of the View Trailhead, Near the Getty which is freeway, that would allow cover for the animals as they freeway, that would allow cover " Our plans include planting native vegetation such as tr stones", areas where animals can pause from their jo In addition to preserving th to their natural areas. will be positioned to facilitate animal movement and crews will maintain the slope used by the animals traveling South of Skirball Bridge at Bel Air Crest animals Undercrossing the run behind the huge freeway pillars. Fencing Trail area. them from crossing Skirball Center Drive, and more fencing will direct them back and forth from the Sepulveda

Service and California Depa rtment of Transportation. on I-405 map, and gray fox west of the I- on I-405 map, Photos—From left, bob cat east of the I-4 pass, which will mark a 10-foot wide travel path on the south side for animal move- ese crossing areas for animal travel, the Metro/Caltrans team is planning "stepping Undercrossing and a ncrete wall on the east side will direct in the middle of the four-year, 10 -mile freeway widening project, crews Metro and Caltrans are committed to also minimize wildlife habitat of our region, " said Fusello. "We're being proactive in our efforts to maintain the native animal crossings during and after construction, Suh said. all of the environmental requirements and monitor these around the freeway and we are the animals to travel freely and safely "Our team wants imals cross - Skirball Bridge and Bel Air Crest. urney as they navigate their way across the I-405. journey toward their destination, " remarked Suh. ees, shrubs and ground cover in some places along the to guide the wildlife toward the culvert tunnel under the to guide the wildlife toward culvert tunnel under

couple of miles north Ge

405. Photos courtesy of National Park 05, Liz Suh pointing at animal05, Liz Suh pointing crossing the animals to bridge and keep fence near the freeway to facilitate making plans to comply with

tty View Trailhead, with