Seattle FRIENDS | Aurora Bridge Suicides

Frequently asked questions

__________________________________________________________________________________

1. Why build a suicide barrier on the Aurora Bridge?

2. How many people commit suicide from the Aurora Bridge?

3. Why build the barrier -- won't they just go somewhere else?

4. Why build the barrier -- cut pedestrian access instead?

5. What does a suicide barrier look like?

6. What have other cities done?

7. How much will it cost?

8. How long will it take to build?

9. Why hasn't anything been done?

10. What can I do to help?

11. Where can I get more info?

__________________________________________________________________________________

Why build a suicide barrier on the Aurora Bridge?

Here are three important reasons:

People are dying. A SeaTac councilmember and a fifteen-year-old Ballard High School student are among the 230 who have jumped to their deaths since the bridge was built.
A significant number of people live, work and play directly beneath the bridge. They also witness the gruesome aftermath of a suicide.
Police and rescue personnel put themselves at risk when trying to talk someone down from the bridge, or when recovering bodies in the murky waters of Lake Union.

__________________________________________________________________________________

How many people commit suicide from the Aurora Bridge?

On average, someone jumps and dies once every three months. In 2007, six people jumped to their deaths. In 2006, nine people jumped making it one of the deadliest years on record.

The Seattle Police Department (SPD) stops potential jumpers multiple times a month, on average.

In comparison the I-5 Ship Canal Bridge has, on average, one jumper per year. The reason for this is no pedestrian access.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Why build a suicide barrier -- won't they just go somewhere else?

No. This is a common misconception:

Two suicide bridges in Washington D.C., the Taft and the Duke Ellington, are located a block away from each other. When officials erected a barrier on one bridge, suicides on the other bridge did not increase.
Dr. Richard Seiden, a psychology professor at UC Berkeley, studied 515 individuals who were prevented from jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge. Ninety four percent of them went on to live normal and productive lives -- a mere six percent attempted suicide again.
The Memorial Bridge in Augusta, Maine was the sight of 14 suicides before officials erected a safety fence there. After installing the fence, suicides at the bridge fell to zero -- and the suicide rate in the entire state did not increase.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Why build a suicide barrier -- cut pedestrian access instead?

Originally the Seattle FRIENDS organization, along with support from a few surrounding neighbors and businesses, tried to lobby officials to cut pedestrian access to the bridge. After all, a detour exists through the nearby Fremont Bridge and research has shown restricting means dramatically reduces suicides. However, the City of Seattle and pedestrian/bicycle advocacy groups opposed the idea. Therefore, we decided to make a strategic decision to join forces and lobby for a barrier instead.

__________________________________________________________________________________

What does a suicide barrier look like?

Click here for examples.

__________________________________________________________________________________

What have other cities done?

In Toronto, officials held a design competition to build a suicide barrier on the Bloor Street Viaduct.
Officials in Augusta, Maine let the public vote on two different styles of fencing for the Memorial Bridge.
In Cold Springs, CA the California Department of Transportation conducted meetings with members of the community -- to help raise funds and educate the public.
A feasibility study is currently underway on the Golden Gate Bridge.

__________________________________________________________________________________

How much will it cost?

Preliminary estimates from the Washington State Department of Transportation are $5 million.

__________________________________________________________________________________

How long will it take to build?

Its unknown since preliminary design work is currently underway. However, the State Department of Transportation is planning to start preliminary construction in '09.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Why hasn't anything been done?

The Washington State Department of Transportation, the agency which owns the bridge, outlines the barrier challenges on their . The City of Seattle, who operates the bridge, installed 6 call boxes in November of 2006 and, at the advice of Seattle FRIENDS, recently funded a barrier design workshop where members of the public solicited their ideas for a suicide barrier on the bridge.

__________________________________________________________________________________

What can I do to help?

Politicians listen to people. If a group of people can collectively raise money toward the issue, it will make it much easier for policy makers in Olympia to make the case to divert funds toward a suicide barrier. Also, your donation is tax exempt. Check with your employer to see if donor-matching programs exist.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Where can I get more info?

We have a separate page for recent media coverage related to the Aurora Bridge here. For more information on the Golden Gate Bridge click here.