Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy criticized California Gov. Gavin Newsom over a wildlife crossing bridge project that is running $21 million over its original budget estimate, sharing video of the unfinished structure spanning 10 lanes of the 101 Freeway in Southern California.
The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, intended to provide safe passage for mountain lions and other animals across the highway, was originally estimated to cost $92 million when construction began in 2022. The project cost has since risen to $114 million, with completion delayed from the original 2025 target to fall 2026.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive defenders of the project point to nationwide construction cost increases that have affected infrastructure projects across the country. California Gov. Newsom's office attributed the cost overruns to inflation driven by tariffs from the Trump administration, noting that the project's cost increase is significantly lower than the 67% national average increase in highway construction costs since 2021.
The governor's press office also cited severe weather last year as a factor in the one-year timeline shift, calling five years of construction work 'far from a boondoggle.' Supporters argue the crossing represents vital infrastructure for preserving wildlife corridors and protecting endangered mountain lion populations in Southern California.
Beth Pratt, director of the National Wildlife Federation and part of the leadership team overseeing the project, stated that the cost increases were consistent with broader construction trends, citing FHWA National Highway Construction Cost Index data. She noted the project team conducted a rigorous redesign process funded by private donations to reduce costs.
What the Right Is Saying
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy directly mocked the project as 'Bridges to Nowhere,' echoing criticism of other California infrastructure projects. Duffy's post on X, referencing the account End Wokeness, drew parallels to California's troubled high-speed rail project, writing: 'Bridges to nowhere. Trains to nowhere. Leave the building to us @GavinNewsom.'
Conservatives have highlighted the project as emblematic of what they characterize as California's wasteful spending under Democratic leadership. The cost overruns come amid heightened scrutiny of the state's infrastructure priorities, particularly as California faces a projected $2.9 billion budget deficit for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
Critics note this is not an isolated incident. Last year, the Department of Transportation canceled $4 billion in federal funding after California spent $15 billion on high-speed rail construction without laying a single track. The wildlife crossing project, they argue, represents another example of California officials failing to deliver projects on time and within budget.
What the Numbers Show
The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing originally carried a $92 million price tag when Newsom pledged $54 million in state funding at the groundbreaking ceremony in April 2022. The governor later added another $10 million in state funding, while the Annenberg Foundation contributed $25 million.
The California Transportation Commission allocated an additional $18.8 million in February 2026 to complete construction, bringing the total cost to approximately $114 million — a $21 million overrun. The project timeline shifted from a 2025 completion target to fall 2026.
According to FHWA National Highway Construction Cost Index data, highway construction costs have increased by 67% since 2021. However, the project's cost increase of approximately 24% remains significantly below that national average. The crossing is intended to serve as a passage for cougars and other wildlife across the 101 Freeway in Southern California.
The Bottom Line
The wildlife crossing project has become a new point of political contention between the Trump administration and California leadership. As Newsom, a 2028 presidential prospect, navigates both the project's delays and a projected $2.9 billion state budget deficit, Republicans are using the cost overruns to question his infrastructure leadership.
The project's defenders argue that construction costs have risen nationwide and that the crossing remains important for wildlife conservation. However, the comparison to other failed California projects — particularly the high-speed rail boondoggle — has provided Republicans with ammunition for ongoing criticism of the governor's management of state infrastructure. Watch for continued political back-and-forth as the project approaches its fall 2026 completion target.