(KRON) — In response to the Bridge District, a median of 30 folks or extra die from suicide on the Golden Gate Bridge a 12 months. This week, the loss of life of a lacking Netflix engineer was dominated a suicide after his physique was discovered northeast of the bridge.
A bodily barrier to cease folks from harming themselves has been below building for the previous few years. The web is 80 p.c full and on monitor to complete the venture across the finish of this 12 months.
Director of Public Affairs at Golden Gate Bridge, Freeway and Transportation District, Paolo Cosulich-Schwartz explains the Golden Gate Bridge district crew is now working to put in netting on the south finish of the bridge.
“We’ve got netting put in on the east and west sides of the bridge between the 2 towers on the north strategy viaduct,” stated Cosulich-Schwartz.
With progress after delays in building over time and in latest weeks, contractors changed fencing after somebody acquired damage.
“There have been some sections of fencing on the Golden Gate Bridge on the west facet which are maintained by the contractor constructing the suicide barrier. There was an incident in early August, the place a bit of fencing got here free and struck a bicyclist. We’re in contact with that particular person and dealing to handle the matter with them instantly,” stated Cosulich-Schwartz.
The suicide deterrent system, also referred to as the protection web, was inbuilt 2017. It’s made from grey metal, 20 ft beneath the sidewalk, extending 20 ft out from the bridge to forestall folks from harming themselves.
Whereas the suicide prevention barrier isn’t but full, the Golden Gate Bridge has seen a major drop within the variety of suicides.
“The primary a part of this 12 months by way of July there have been six suicides on the Golden Gate Bridge,” stated Cosulich-Schwartz. “For context, during the last 20 years, we’ve averaged about 30 suicides per 12 months on the Golden Gate Bridge. Final 12 months, we noticed 22 over all the course of the 12 months, so suicides seem like down. It would take a while after the online is full to completely entry the affect.”
For those who or somebody are having ideas of suicide, contact the 988 Suicide and Disaster Lifeline.
