15+ Years of Securing Tampa’s Sunshine Skyway Bridge
Known for its iconic, bright yellow suspension cables and picturesque arch, the Sunshine Skyway bridge connects St. Petersburg, FL with the junction of Interstate 275 and Interstate 75 on the southern side of Tampa Bay. Like many high profile bridges, such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, CA, the Sunshine Skyway has seen a number of suicides involving people jumping from the bridge’s highest or most remote spans.
While some bridges are confronting this issue with safety netting, the Sunshine Skyway has been taking a more human-centered approach – LEXAN call boxes that allow people in crisis to instantly connect with counselors certified and trained to help those at risk and dispatch emergency response if and when necessary. It’s a move that’s caught the attention of authorities nationwide as a solution other cities might look to follow.
See the report on NBC Channel 8 Tampa here.