Vista Bridge, an arch bridge west of downtown Portland, Oregon, has become known colloquially as "the suicide bridge," after so many people have killed themselves by jumping off of it that locals are no longer surprised when they hear of a new suicide, according to Time.
The bridge has a wonderful view of the city skyline, and the opening sequence for the television series "Portlandia" was shot from the bridge span.
Kenneth Kahn, an attorney, shares an office with his wife that is located almost directly under the bridge and over the years he has heard the slam of bodies on pavement on more than one occasion.
"Just imagine a human being detonating," he said, describing the horrible sound.
The Kahns are leading a group called Friends of the Vista Bridge that is aiming to convince the city to install suicide-prevention barriers, a step that has been taken on bridges in many cities around the world. The group argues that jumping from a bridge is a compulsive act and that barriers would force would-be jumpers to pause, and that may cause them to rethink their actions.
The group formed after a suicide in January, and it faces financial problems. City leaders are receptive to the bridge barrier idea, but face a major budget shortfall, and the projected cost of the bridge project is $2.5 million. One option the city is considering is a federal grant.
"We certainly think of it as a high priority," Steve Novick, the City Commissioner told Time. "But there's a whole mess of competing priorities and not much money."
Some residents oppose the project because they think those determined to kill themselves will find a way, with or without a bridge barrier, especially in a city nicknamed "Bridgetown" because of the large number of bridges it contains. There have even been a few recent suicides from building rooftops.
"I don't particularly feel that throwing money at an issue necessarily solves it, and altering the bridge because of a few people who want to end their life seems pointless," Les Anderson, a magician who is among the people who oppose the project, said on the groups Facebook page. "You're not going to stop someone who wants to end their own life."
The bridge has signs that were installed in September to prompt those planning to jump to call a suicide prevention hotline. Three callers have specifically mentioned the sign, according to David Westbrook, of the nonprofit Lines for Life.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
