Colorado Street Bridge Enhancements Could be Delayed

Suicide mitigation efforts on the Colorado Street Bridge could be placed on hold according to a city staff report.

On Monday, the City Council will hold a public hearing and vote on the city’s 2021-2025 Capital Improvement Program budget. 

According to a city staff report, the bridge is just one project of eight projects that could be removed from the budget in order to move more than $8.5 million to the city’s operating budget to support city services. 

Those projects include sidewalk improvements, traffic lights, a Cycle track on Union Street and Colorado Street Bridge enhancements.

“Given the level of economic uncertainty facing the city, the recommended fiscal year 2021-2025 CIO has been modified from what staff had intended to present,” according to a city staff report. “Specifically, a number of projects that were to be recommended for funding by the General Fund (Measure I) have been removed so as to free up financial resources to support the continuation of essential City services funded by the operating budget.”

The $2 million enhancements to the historic bridge were part of suicide mitigation efforts according to a city staff report.

According to some reports, more than 150 people have jumped from the 106-year-old bridge since the Great Depression, Thirty of those deaths have happened since 2006 from the alcoves along the bridge’s walkways, where access over the existing metal railings was easier before temporary fencing was installed.

The 10-foot tall, one-inch thick mesh fencing blocking access to 20 alcoves on both sides of the historic bridge was erected in 2018.

After several public meetings, the Colorado Street Bridge Task Force concluded that vertical barriers and fencing at the ends are the only deterrent measures that physically prevent suicide attempts from occurring.

Other projects that could be delayed include, 

$1,000,000 in ADA sidewalk improvements, $500,000 in pedestrian crossing enhancements

$3,000,000 high voltage series street light conversions, $500,000 complete street Union Street cycle track.

The budget also included a new traffic signal at Del Mar Boulevard and Michigan Avenue that would have cost $683,000, a $440,000 traffic signal at Orange Grove Boulevard and Craig Avenue and a $416,000 traffic signal at Orange Grove Boulevard and Sunnyslope Avenue.

“Once the economic picture becomes more clear, to the extent that funds are available to pursue some of these projects, staff would return to the City Council for appropriate consideration.