Plans aim to deter jumpers on Seattle's Aurora Bridge

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By KOMO Staff

Summary

Several different options are being discussed as possible solutions to end the tragic legacy of the Aurora Bridge, which has become notorious for suicide jumpers over the years.

Story Published: May 18, 2007 at 11:21 PM PDT

Story Updated: Jan 29, 2010 at 12:35 PM PDT

Plans aim to deter jumpers on Seattle's Aurora Bridge
SEATTLE - Several different options are being discussed as possible solutions to end the tragic legacy of the Aurora Bridge, which has become notorious for suicide jumpers over the years.

Gregg Hirakawa with the Seattle Department of Transportation says the new crisis hotlines installed on the Aurora Bridge seem to be making a difference. He says he's encouraged that someone called for help before making the deadly leap.

"We know it's worked at least one time. So there's somebody alive today because of it," he said.

This year, six people committed suicide by jumping off the bridge. Last year, nine people jumped to their death.

"She screamed the whole way down," said Daniel Askew, who witnessed a jumpper, "and then she hit the water and there was nothing."

How do you solve such an emotional and dramatic issue? Some are calling for drastic measures, including closing the Aurora Bridge to pedestrians.

Hirakawa says that solution will only create more problems and dangers.

"If we do try to restrict pedestrian access, people are gonna walk on this bridge anyway and people are gonna bike on this bridge anyway," he said. "That means they're not gonna be walking on this separate sidewalk. That means they're gonna be walking on the roadway. That's what's gonna happen."

Robert Jones works beneath the Aurora Bridge and says a more through plan is needed.

"We would like to see the state (being) more proactive in developing some kind of a plan that works for this community," he said.

Jones, whose office is located right under the bridge, says suicides aren't the only problems that stem from pedestrians on the bridge.

"We had our car windshields broken three different times just from inanimate objects coming down," he said.

Jones believes a fair compromise is a fence, which would allow pedestrian access on the bridge but keep people and objects from falling off of it.

Hirakawa agrees that a fence may be a more realistic solution than restricted access, but says the option will take more planning and money to put in place.

Ultimately, the state will have the final say in choosing a solution for the bridge.