Work has begun on a $211m barrier aimed to prevent suicides on San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge.
Image courtesy of Shimmick Construction
The work is being carried out for the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District by two Oakland firms, Aecom subsidiary Shimmick Construction and steel specialist Danny’s Construction Company.
Construction work on the project includes:
- Installation of a stainless-steel net across the full 2.7km bridge
- Installation of approximately 600 tons of steel to support the net
- Removal of four maintenance travellers on the suspension spans and installation of 12 new battery powered maintenance travellers
- Addition of 1,100 tons of rail girders to support maintenance travellers
- Removal of thousands of rivets and the addition of high-strength bolts
- Installation of 425 tons of wind retrofit steel on the west side of the main suspension span, involving the replacement of the existing guardrail and installation of new wind fairings.
Approximately 1,600 people have taken their lives by jumping from the bridge since it opened in 1937.
The suicide barrier is due to be completed in 2021.
Top image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/different2une
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