Coronado Bridge suicide barriers advance to design phase with funding pending

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- The long-awaited project to install suicide prevention barriers on the Coronado Bridge has been approved and fast-tracked, with the contract signed and design underway.

Despite the project's approval, securing the necessary funding for construction remains a challenge, as only the design and engineering phases have been financially supported so far.

The Coronado Bridge has been a site of tragedy, with at least 550 people having died by suicide there since its opening in 1969.

In comparison, the Golden Gate Bridge, which installed suicide nets last year at a cost of $400 million, has seen a 73% reduction in suicides.

Coronado's approach will involve a fence rather than nets, aiming to prevent access to the bridge's edge.

Local leaders remain optimistic that the necessary funds for construction will be secured, with a projected start in 2026 and completion by 2028.

As the most deadly bridge in America following the Golden Gate's improvements, the Coronado Bridge's planned barriers could play a crucial role in preventing further loss of life.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KSWB. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KSWB staff before being published.