An "innovative" highway overpass covered in plants could be a path for mountain lions to cross the 101 freeway that splits California's Santa Monica Mountains, conservationists say. 

Likely a multi-million project, the special overpass would be a boon for the rare mountain lions that live in the area since a shortage of male lions has led to dangerous inbreeding, the Telegraph reported.

Local conservationists have taken on the cause after the California Department of Transportation applied for a $2 million federal grant but was denied.

"P22" is the only male lion known to have successfully crossed the dangerous highway to make it into Los Angeles' Griffith Park. The fresh blood was good news for the Santa Monica mountain lion population, which had reached dangerously low levels of genetic diversity that resulted in heart problems, disease and even sterility for some of the males.

"He came from the north and had a lot of genetic material that was new to the Santa Monica Mountains," said Seth Riley, National Park Service wildlife ecologist, as quoted by NPR. "Fortunately not only did he survive [the crossing] but he then became a dominant breeding male ... and had many offspring and continues to have offspring."

The lions were the subject of a recent study that examined the effects of inbreeding on the around 40 lions that inhabit the area.

While importing lions from other areas is an option, California ecologists hope to build an overpass similar to those that have been successfully constructed in Montana, Canada and the Netherlands. 

"It's pretty remarkable," described Barbara Marquez, senior environmental planner for the California Department of Transportation, as quoted by NPR. "It's an extension of the habitat from one side to another."

Because the bridge would be planted, it would look like a regular bridge that had succumbed to the elements and been covered with vegetation, grass and trees.

Marquez said people could also use the overpass as a footbridge but didn't address in the NPR interview whether or not a path that is used by both mountain lions and humans would be a liability.

"This wildlife overcrossing would connect the trail from one side to another, so pedestrians would be allowed to use it as well," she said. "It would definitely be innovative, because there's nothing like that here in California."

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