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Coronado Bridge getting 'bird spikes' as suicide barrier

Posted at 6:01 PM, Jan 15, 2019
and last updated 2019-01-15 21:01:53-05

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - State officials say the Coronado Bridge may have a suicide barrier on it in coming weeks.

CalTrans says work to install bird spikes along the the San Diego-Coronado Bridge could begin by the end of the month

The measure is temporary and CalTrans adds they are still pursuing a more permanent barrier in the long term for the 2-mile long span

“It gives an opportunity for someone to come up behind you and stop you from doing so,” said Steven Bouchard who survived leaping from the bridge in 1987.

Bouchard is one of the members of the Coronado San Diego Bridge Collaborative who spoke to CalTrans last year about the effectivity of a barrier.

“It’s about time," said Bouchard, “all it takes is seconds to pull somebody back.”

420 people have leapt to their deaths from the bridge since 1969.

The suicide helpline number is (888-724-7240).