Full-Scale Mock-Ups of Colorado Street Bridge Anti-Suicide Barriers to Be Installed in November

The next step in Pasadena’s Colorado Street Bridge Suicide Mitigation Project was approved by the City Council on Monday, as the body OK’d the purchase of temporary mock-ups of various designs for what eventually will become permanent life-saving barriers.

Without debate, as the matter had already been recommended by the council’s Public Safety Committee, the council unanimously approved spending $160,210 to contract with Custom Design Iron Works Inc. of Chatsworth for the fabrication and installation of the mock-ups.

As a result, the full-scale mock-ups are expected be installed at two locations along the historic bridge some time in November.

Ara Maloyan, the city’s public works director, told the council the mock-ups would remain in place for as long as a month and a half as the city seeks public reaction to their look.

Once the public checks in through surveys and comments on the city’s website, a final design will be selected. At that point, permanent, iron barriers would be purchased and erected.

Kris Markarian, an engineer in the DPW, told the Public Safety Committee last week that the department will conduct “extensive outreach” to gauge public reaction to the three designs.

Two of the proposed designs feature curved barriers, while one features straight pickets – the latter being more difficult for drivers to see through as they traverse the bridge, Maloyan said.  

The costs of the fancier curved barriers would be either $4.4 million or $4.6 million, while the straight pickets would cost $2.5 million, according to a DPW report.

Maloyan said the DPW hopes to return to the Public Safety Committee in January to recommend a final design choice.

The National Suicide Hotlines are available 24/7 at 1-800 SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) and 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255).
Additional help is available at the Didi Hirsch 24-hour Crisis Line: 1-877-727-4747 (en Español: 1-800-628-9454)
LGBTQ – The Trevor Lifeline: 1-866-488-7386
Trans Crisis Line: 1-877-565-8860
Crisis Text Line: Text HELLO to 741-741
People of Color Crisis Text Line: Text STEVE to 741-741