A grid mesh barrier will be installed on both sides of the Cold Spring Bridge, which has been the location of 55 suicides since it was opened in 1964. Motorists will encounter one-way reversing traffic control Monday through Friday from 9 am to 3 pm.
The CHP will assist in maintaining a safe construction zone. Detour signs will be posted to direct bicyclists and pedestrians away from the bridge during construction.
“When completed, this section of State Route 154 will provide a safer environment for all travelers on the bridge,” said Caltrans District 5 Director Rich Krumholz.
The contractor for this $778,000 project is Bugler Construction of Pleasanton, CA.
This project is expected to be completed this spring, weather permitting.
Caltrans reminds motorists to move over and slow down when driving through Caltrans construction zones.
For traffic updates on other state highways in Santa Barbara County, motorists can call Caltrans District 5 Public Affairs at (805) 549-3318 or visit the District 5 website.
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Comments
Great! Finally a cost effective way to actually save lives. The tragedy is that more lives were lost during the long duration when this project was delayed by the intense opposition.
Barriers do save lives. Of course rational people dispute that fact, and erect the straw man that the barrier is the only way our County is trying to prevent suicides. In reality lots of varied services are available and we need to encourage all people at risk to utilize them.
sevendolphins (anonymous profile)
January 13, 2012 at 9:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great! A backed-up highway 154 for a week, and a blighted view from now on to boot! Guess we had to spend all that taxpayer money somehow! Yay do-goody idiot bureaucrats! I'm sure the people that would have jumped from the bridge in the future will definitely give up all thoughts of jumping off high places because of this brilliant plan. We are so clever and creative! More walls, more barriers, more fences!!
And they're doing this construction in the middle of the day and not at night after the traffic rush because why?
ironbelly (anonymous profile)
January 16, 2012 at 11:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm with you Sevendolphs. I foretold to all the amateur and professional ojectioneers that it would happen and it is about to.
Ironbelly: Perhaps you can back off the methpipe for the week and rollerskate over Refugio Road until your sensibilities return (if you ever had any).
Positive change is just so inconveniencing, innit? Ha!
Draxor (anonymous profile)
January 16, 2012 at 8:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This project has a twofold benefit, both saving lives and a potential boost to the economy. When workers make money, they also spend it.
Part of me wants to suggest they also install a giant net but then you'd have clowns jumping off just for the thrill. (That's pretty close to a signing statement as I've ever written one.)
Ken_Volok (anonymous profile)
January 16, 2012 at 9:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There is absolutely no reason to believe that this expense will serve to stop a single suicide, seeing as how jumping off bridges is only one of a myriad of far less dramatic methods.
There is, however, reason to believe that the construction during daylight hours on the pass will almost certainly cause an accident or two.
If that very same money were spent on DUI enforcement we would save more lives than any barrier ever would.
The CHP stats on the number of alcohol related deaths and injuries on the pass are right there for anybody to read.
Myron (anonymous profile)
January 18, 2012 at 5:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Where is the Great Volcanic One in this debate? (Etna/Kratatao/Pinatubo...)
billclausen (anonymous profile)
January 22, 2012 at 1:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
By the way, I drove through the bridge yesterday
and noticed no difference. Either they haven't started or it's a barrier that doesn't obstruct the view.
billclausen (anonymous profile)
January 22, 2012 at 1:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)