San Fransisco (ECN) - The California panel that oversees the Golden Gate decided to install a net to catch those who attempt suicide by jumping off the famous bridge.
The structure which stretches 280 meters long and crosses the entrance to the bay of San Francisco is a magnet for tourists, but also attracts people who want to kill themselves.
In 2007 there were 39 confirmed suicides on the bridge and seven unconfirmed cases. This year, 19 people are going to jump from the Golden Gate bridge, said local officials.
The six meter net would be installed beneath the pavement and would be extended to 20 meters from the bridge. Officials estimate that the initiative will cost between 40 and 50 million dollars. The authorities, who voted 14-1 in favor of the measure, also explained that maintenance could cost about 100 thousand dollars a year.
Since 1970 debate over the installation of a network of restraint to prevent suicide under the union between San Francisco and Marin County, said Mary Currie, a spokeswoman for the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and the District of transportation.
Building the network will take several years and the project also requires an environmental impact study, said Currie.
