San Diego-Coronado Bridge to Undergo $145 Million Suicide Prevention Upgrade
The San Diego-Coronado Bridge, now the deadliest bridge in the U.S. for suicides with over 470 deaths since opening in 1969, will receive a $145 million upgrade. Caltrans has secured a permit for an 8-foot steel wire mesh barrier along…
San Diego, CA, July 28, 2026 —
The San Diego-Coronado Bridge is set to receive a significant upgrade aimed at preventing suicides, with a budget of $145 million allocated for the project. This initiative comes as the bridge has been identified as the deadliest in the United States for suicides, recording over 470 deaths since its opening in 1969.
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has successfully obtained a permit for the installation of an 8-foot steel wire mesh barrier. This barrier will be erected along both sides of the bridge, a measure intended to create a physical deterrent.
In addition to the physical barrier, the project includes the deployment of 20 artificial intelligence-powered cameras. These cameras are designed to detect and alert authorities to unusual activity on the bridge, potentially allowing for timely intervention.
Previous efforts to address the issue of suicides on the bridge have included the installation of call boxes and bird spikes, measures that have proven to be less effective in preventing deaths.
The $145 million upgrade represents a substantial investment aimed at enhancing safety and reducing the number of fatalities on this iconic structure. The permit secured by Caltrans marks a critical step forward in the implementation of these new safety features.
Story summarized from the original created by Raquel Torres Rodríguez on voiceofsandiego.org, see more information here.
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