Caltrans announced in January $14 million funding was approved by the California Transportation Commission (CTC) to design a stainless steel vertical net over the next three years. Pending further funding, the net would then be constructed on the outside of the bridge rail to deter suicides.

Similar physical barriers have reduced the suicide rate at other suicide hotspots by 90%. The proposed eight-to-10 foot net would not be scalable.

For Wayne Strickland, the announcement came after years of advocacy for the government to step in to prevent people from losing their lives on the bridge.

“I’m very happy that Caltrans is listening and taking measures to save lives,” Strickland said.

The former firefighter was part of a political action committee that advocated for lights and a center divider to be added after it was initially built. He responded to many scenes of head-on collisions until the bridge was made safer. Since retirement, he has continued to advocate for the bridge to be safer— now for those suffering from suicidal urges.

According to the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office, there were 13 deaths in 2022 where the manner was determined to be suicide and the death is associated with the Coronado Bridge.

Getting the Coronado community and Caltrans to be willing to add barriers took years of efforts. Residents were concerned barriers would obstruct views, ruin an iconic bridge and hurt tourism.

Throughout the years, some have wondered whether barriers would actually do anything to stop suicide deaths. After all, someone could just as easily jump from another bridge. However, evidence has strengthened since 2005 that restrictions to lethal means, especially for barriers at suicide hotspots, prevent suicide deaths in the area overall.

Suicide hotspots are more than just a place accessible to the public where suicide attempts are often fatal— they also gain a self-perpetuating infamy. While the Coronado Bridge is nowhere near as romanticized in media as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, it is still a suicide hotspot with an estimated 400 lives lost to suicide since its inception.

Before the net as a physical barrier was approved, other deterrence measures were tried, including signs to suicide hotlines like 9-8-8 urging people to get help. In 2019, Caltrans added temporary spikes to the railing but those failed in reducing the suicide rate. Worse, Strickland noted people struggling with suicidal urges could no longer sit or stand on the railing so they just jumped. With the spikes, emergency responders had less time to rescue people.

Frustrated after years of waiting for the project to start at all, Strickland and fellow advocates hope the construction could occur faster.

“I realize government can work slowly, but it really needs to be faster because it ends up 15 to 18 lives lost every year,” he said.

Stefan Galvez-Abadia, Deputy District Director Environmental Division of Caltrans District 11, assured residents, “This is a priority project and we are moving forward as quickly as possible.”

The project itself is unusual for Caltrans. While the agency can make infrastructure changes as part of the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), fatalities due to suicides do not meet the program criteria. Still, suicide attempts and deaths do often include abandoned vehicles that can cause collisions and lengthy bridge closures, another Caltrans concern. It was $450 million of funding from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA) that finally launched the design process, with approval from the California Transportation Commission.

With its coastal location, a careful environmental review was completed last year and Caltrans promises to meet its environmental commitments. SR-75 is part of the Strategic Highway Network due to the naval base, so bridge closures or delays for constructions must be avoided if possible.

The coastal zone location, national security necessity of the highway and its place as a historic resource all add challenges to the difficult construction process.

“In addition to working with an existing complex bridge design, the proposed vertical net will block existing inspection and maintenance access to certain areas of the bridge. The engineering and final design must account for all details including providing the necessary inspection and maintenance access after the vertical net is installed,” explained Galvez-Abadia.

The Coronado Bridge has the most fatalities of any highway in Caltrans District 11 and is the second deadliest bridge in California. With the Golden Gate Bridge adding nets, by the time the Coronado Bridge has barriers constructed, it may be the deadliest bridge in the nation.

Editor’s note

I witnessed a man jump from the Coronado Bridge in 2018, when I was returning from a birthday celebration in Coronado. I called 911 but it was too late. I would later learn he drowned that night and his body was recovered a week later.

Since jumping is a public act, it is unique from other suicide means for having the potential to traumatize onlookers. I suffered from nightmares, guilt and depression for months after.

For closure, I used a variety of public records, most importantly an autopsy report and a previous traffic violation in another state, to track down his family and learn more about the man. This process was overall helpful for me but it was alarming to learn the Coronado Bridge was such a suicide magnet that someone would travel cross country to reach it. I want people to be attracted to San Diego for its balmy weather and beaches, not as a suicide destination.

Thankfully, I recovered from this incident thanks to therapy, treatment, interpersonal support and developing coping skills. If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, know help is available. Please call or text 9-8-8 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or visit 988lifeline.org