Installation of fencing begins on Victory Bridge

• Work began Monday on the installation of a barrier fence along the Victory Bridge%2C the scene of numerous suicides and attempted suicides in recent years
• The fencing with small holes will run from the sidewalk to the top of the railing and is designed to hinder people from being able to climb on the railing
• Installation is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. The shoulder of the road will be closed while the work is underway.
• The project also includes installation of fencing on the nearby Route 9 bridge next year

PERTH AMBOY – Work began Monday on the installation of a barrier fence along the Victory Bridge, the scene of numerous suicides and attempted suicides in recent years.

The fencing with small holes will run from the sidewalk to the top of the railing, and is designed to hinder people from being able to climb on the railing, according to Steve Schapiro, state Department of Transportation spokesman.

The fencing will be installed on both sides of the bridge which connects Perth Amboy and Sayreville along Route 35. Installation is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year, Schapiro said. The shoulder of the road will be closed while the work is underway.

Schapiro said the project also includes installation of fencing on the nearby Route 9 bridge next year.

"We're taking care of the Victory Bridge first," said Schapiro, adding the cost for the fencing on the two bridges is about $1.4 million.

Installation of the fences comes just weeks after state DOT Commissioner Jamie Fox, on his first day in office, met with state Sen. Joseph Vitale, D-19th District and Perth Amboy Mayor Wilda Diaz.

Since being rebuilt by the state in 2005 with a high arch in the middle, the bridge has been the scene of approximately 23 suicides and 84 attempted suicides, authorities say. Both city and state emergency personnel have responded to the rescue and recovery operations.

After a Perth Amboy charter high school student jumped off the bridge in September and died, Diaz and residents pushed for something to be done on the bridge which had developed a reputation as a "suicide bridge."

A rally to save lives was held days after the student's funeral, but the following week there were two more suicide attempts. One man survived the jump, while police prevented the other.

On Oct. 4, the same week of the two attempted suicides, the pedestrian and bicycle lanes on the bridge were closed by the DOT, preventing access to the railing.

Since that time Perth Amboy Police Chief Benjamin Ruiz said there has only been one person who walked up the bridge and was asking for help but didn't make any attempt to jump off the bridge.

Ruiz added city police have made regular checks of the bridge, along with Sayreville and state police.

"Between all of us there are a lot of eyes on that bridge now," Ruiz said. "I really think it's been a blessing that Commissioner Fox legitimately showed that he wanted to do something. That legitimacy came through with his conversation and obviously through his actions because we've been fighting this for 10 years and nothing had happened."

Ruiz said the reality is there are people with suicidal tendencies who are going to do what they have to to but it doesn't mean the city has to give them an easy avenue to do it.

"We have a responsibility to make that as difficult as possible Are they going to look for other places, yeah," he said, adding the number of suicides and attempts on the Victory Bridge were getting to the point where they were astronomical. "This is not 100 percent. Nothing is but we can go back with a clear conscious and know we did everything possible."

Staff Writer Suzanne Russell: 732-565-7335; srussell@mycentraljersey.com