Good view
The city of San Francisco, California, this Wednesday (3) completed the installation of protective nets on the Golden Gate Bridge to prevent suicide attempts from falling there.
For decades, survivors and victims' families have campaigned to house equipment in the iconic structure, where around 2,000 people have jumped to a depth of around 70 meters since it opened in 1937.
The nets are made of marinegrade stainless steel cables to withstand the winds, fog and seawater of the San Francisco Bay location and extend six meters on either side of the structure, six meters below deck. Bridge.
“We installed a continuous physical suicide barrier along the entire length of the 1.7mile bridge on both the east and west sides. The bridge is sealed,” said Dennis Mulligan, general manager of the bridge’s Highway and Transportation District, Associated Press Agency.
The city approved the design of the new barriers more than a decade ago, but work that began in 2018 suffered multiple delays.
As the installation nears completion, the average number of people jumping from the bridge has dropped from 30 to 14, according to Mulligan. The nets serve as a fall barrier and deterrent, and firefighters and bridge maintenance employees trained for these situations carry out the rescue.
Critics of the project say too much money was spent on construction. The values are even the subject of litigation by the responsible contractors, who claim to have spent around US$200 million (R$980) more due to problems with the bridge's construction and maintenance platforms, bringing work to a standstill for US$400 million Dollar. A hearing is scheduled for June.
How to help those who are thinking about committing suicide
The CVV (Center for the Valorization of Life) offers emotional and preventative support in the event of suicide. If you are looking for help, call 188 (toll free) or visit the website.