California’s Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing over U.S. Route 101 is running $21 million above its initial budget, with construction now expected to finish by fall 2026, according to the governor’s office. The project, intended to provide safe passage for wildlife such as cougars, was originally estimated to cost $92 million but has since increased to $114 million.
Project Funding and Cost Increases
Governor Gavin Newsom pledged $54 million in state funds at the April 2022 groundbreaking, later adding $10 million. The California Transportation Commission allocated another $18.8 million in February to cover additional expenses. The Annenberg Foundation contributed $25 million in 2021, providing significant private funding for the project.
Beth Pratt, director at the National Wildlife Federation and part of the project’s leadership, attributed delays and cost overruns to tariffs, inflation, and rising construction expenses. She referenced the Federal Highway Administration’s National Highway Construction Cost Index, which reports a 67% rise in highway construction costs since 2021.
Response from Newsom’s Office and Critics
Newsom’s press office attributed the budget increase partly to tariffs imposed during the Trump administration, stating the cost rise was smaller than the national average for similar projects. They also cited severe weather last year as a factor delaying completion by about one year.
The project has drawn criticism from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who highlighted the unfinished bridge and likened it to other costly infrastructure projects lacking timely completion. Newsom’s office defended the project’s progress, emphasizing ongoing efforts to manage costs through redesigns funded by private donations rather than public money.
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