California's massive wildlife bridge, the largest of its kind in the world, is set to open on 2 December after overcoming criticism from conservative commentators who labelled it a 'bridge to nowhere'. The $114m (£91m) structure spans a 10-lane freeway in northern Los Angeles County, allowing mountain lions, bobcats and lizards to cross safely.
The project, which broke ground in 2022, faced delays due to record rains and flooding, pushing the completion date from 2025 to 2026. Beth Pratt, California regional executive director of the National Wildlife Federation, said the budget rose from $93m to $114m due to inflation, a smaller increase than the national average for highway construction.
Criticism intensified after an op-ed in the California Post, co-authored by Christopher Rufo of the Manhattan Institute, called the project a 'jobs program for environmentalists'. Pratt received abusive messages and threats, prompting the hiring of security. She dismissed the criticism as misinformation, noting the bridge connects the Santa Monica mountains and that cost increases were in line with inflation.
Despite the backlash, the bridge is nearing completion. At an Earth Day event, butterflies and native plants were already thriving on the structure. 'If bullies think they're going to stop the work, they don't know me,' Pratt said.
