New Humber Bridge fence to stop suicide bids

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Saturday, December 26, 2009
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This is HullandEastRiding

A pedestrian safety fence is to be built across the Humber Bridge in a bid to save lives.

The board has announced it will be replacing the existing low level railings along the bridge with a much higher parapet, to ensure the safety of pedestrians and discourage suicide attempts.

The scheme, which could cost up to £4.5m, follows a successful trial of a 328ft (100m) section of fence along the bridge.

It is thought that about 90 people have deliberately ended their lives by jumping from the bridge over the past 26 years.

There have been a total 200 incidents, which also includes those falling off.

Only five people are known to have survived falling or jumping off the bridge.

Peter Hill, the Humber Bridge Board's general manager, said the project is the first of its kind ever attempted on a bridge of the Humber's scale or design.

He said: "Ten years ago we couldn't have attempted a safety project of this type without compromising the structural integrity of the bridge.

"Through modern advances in modelling, manufacturing and wind tunnel testing we have now found a solution that will make the bridge safer for everyone."

The project will see more than six km of low maintenance 2.3metre high, inward slanting, hollow aluminium sections placed at the sides of the bridge at all high level approaches and bridge structures.

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28 Comments

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    by The Emperor, Hull

    Tuesday, December 29 2009, 7:07PM

    “If someone wants to die, why can't they? A struck-off medic should be paid £200 per head to give them a quick 100mg injection of diamorphine. No excyuse to jump off the bridge then. Why are people so willing to put down sick pets, but not willing to do the same for people?”

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    by Chubbs, Gold Coast Oz

    Sunday, December 27 2009, 10:09PM

    “Why not spend the money on finding out why people wish to end their lives and improve their lifestyles??? By the way, if the fencing contract is going out to tender I would love to price it then I could retire .”

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    by EastSideRightSideOfTheRiver, East Hull

    Sunday, December 27 2009, 6:57PM

    “W.A.W.O.M. work that one out if you can Humber Bridge Board. It's as easy as working out the fact that this will not stop people from taking their own lives. Unfortunately they may put other peoples lives in danger when they have no other option I'm sorry to say.”

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    by In The Know, Barton

    Sunday, December 27 2009, 12:55PM

    “Jamie, Hull - the people who 'run' (supposedly manage) the Humber Bridge are far from intelligent - in fact most people would be astounded as to how incredibly stupid they actually are. Add to this the actual "board" themselves - leaches like Kim "Money Money Money" Ryley & Dave Gemmel "OBE" (oh, socialism is such a wonderful thing!) then you work out just why the place is haemorraging money at such a rate. All the HBB management team are interested in is how little time they can spend at "work"!”

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    by Alf Hart, Hull

    Sunday, December 27 2009, 11:14AM

    “First people will top themselves if they are really determined. For a person to be at their wits end is terrible, they need help.
    Secondly has anyone calculated the drag factor of this fence with the very high winds and what effect would it have on the existing structure?”

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    by Sye Kiatrist, Haway with the fairies man

    Sunday, December 27 2009, 10:05AM

    “Isn't this a job for Phil Brown?”

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    by steve, thorngumbald

    Sunday, December 27 2009, 9:55AM

    “what a waste of money why don't people who are going to do it jump on to clive sully way your definitely gone then!!next thing they will say the wire on the bridge was not designed to hold the extra weight so they need replacing at a cost of £100 million brain dead springs to mind!!!!”

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    by trudell, goldcoast,australia

    Sunday, December 27 2009, 9:26AM

    “Firstly : Probally another bent goverment scheme! friend of a friend owns a big fencing company blah..blah ..blah....same old robbing crap!

    Secondly: Its ppls own right to choose what they want to do,I agree...but if they are not mentally stable then they obvs need help ,esp before they get to such a point! money could deff be better used here, offerning help in the first instance of depresion or what not!

    Thirdly: Oswald your a dick! your comments are pathetic! you do not know what is goin through a persons head, esp one who has been is such circumstance as Jarred ,bad enough to obvs try to kill himself..your stupid attemp of trying to sound funny,Big even?..could be enough to put a person mentally unstable back there again....ur an Idiot simple as! its ppl like you who bring others down around them, makes me glad to have left Hull, as the handful of arses like yourself will never change,only influence others! A 1000 good ppl get overlooked because of the few dicks such as yourself,,,,, now go sit in a corner and think of some stupid little comment to put back to me... seriously I could not give a sod! have fun,
    Trudell ;)”

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    by Jamie, Hull

    Sunday, December 27 2009, 8:46AM

    “It really is bizarre that supposed intelligent people in charge of something like the Humber Bridge think this will save lives. It might stop people jumping off but people will find other methods and no doubt the board will justify the expense in a few years by saying "look no more suicides" .
    Just leave people to live (or end) their lives as they see fit it really is none of our business.”

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    by Charles, cott

    Sunday, December 27 2009, 2:41AM

    “Spoilsports!”

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