Golden Gate Bridge's Safety Net Project To Prevent Suicides Is Almost Complete

The Golden Gate Bridge's website says on average 30 people or more die from suicide on the bridge each year

The Golden Gate Bridge is almost finished adding safety nets. The goal of the project – which began in 2018 – is to help prevent suicides from occurring.

According to a page on the bridge's website, the The Suicide Deterrent System, also known as the Safety Net, will be placed 20 feet below the sidewalk, extending 20 feet out from the bridge.

"On average, 30 people or more die from suicide here each year," the website reads. "Hundreds more are stopped from harming themselves through the efforts of the Golden Gate Bridge District Patrol, California Highway Patrol, other law enforcement, and citizen intervention. Ultimately, a physical barrier is needed to stop this tragedy."

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The New York Times reports that the construction cost of the project was $217 million and has taken longer to build than the San Francisco-based bridge initially did. The NYT also reported that since 2011 officials said there have been 335 suicides on the bridge.

"We want the message to be that it’s going to hurt, and also jumping off the bridge is illegal,” Denis Mulligan, the general manager of the organization that oversees the bridge, told the outlet.

"If we save 30 lives a year, and not 31, it’s worth it for those 30 people who we saved,” he continued. “And that’s every year. To greatly reduce the number of people dying in the community is a worthy goal. And to achieve that is success.”

The website adds that jumping onto the net will result in significant bruises, sprains and possibly broken bones.

Since the project started and nets have been added the average number of suicides on the bridge has decreased. In 2022, there were 22 confirmed suicides. Through October of this year, there have been 13.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.

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