Move to stop suicides on Golden Gate might kill us

It’s hardly news that various design alterations to help prevent suicides on the Golden Gate Bridge would radically alter the look of the world-renowned structure. But the fact that it would cost $50 million is news, especially since the agency that controls it operates an annual operating deficit and can’t seem to keep its hands out of drivers’ wallets.

Still, the recent report that contains five new designs for a suicide barrier is missing one essential item: It doesn’t deal with the death and vehicular mayhem on the bridge — the kind that would be largely prevented if the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District installed a median barrier to prevent cars from crossing into oncoming traffic.

While it’s easy to sympathize with the sentiment of the groups that have mobilized to stop bridge suicides, it’s harder to understand why it’s taken so long to put a divider in place to stop head-on collisions — like the multiple-car crash in March that injured seven people and stopped traffic in both directions for hours.

Plans for building a moveable barrier have been on the books for 37 years. Yet somehow, someway, bridge district officials have never been able to put one in place. After the March mess, the barrier debate stirred anew, with agency representatives saying that even with funding available it would likely take another two years to erect a barrier.

There’s only one certainty — bridge officials will approve yet another $1 toll increase today.  

(Examiner file photo)
Slow motion: Although the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District has been discussing new barriers to prevent suicides, action is not guaranteed.