In a move aimed at enhancing the safety of the Washington Avenue Bridge and acting upon a lingering concern, Minnesota Senator Scott Dibble has brought forward a bill to make temporary suicide prevention barriers a permanent fixture. Found in the heart of Minneapolis, the structure links the University of Minnesota's East and West Banks and sees a regular footfall of thousands of students daily. According to a statement released by Senate DFL, Dibble expressed, "The Washington Avenue Bridge is a critical nexus in the heart of Minneapolis, connecting the East and West Banks of the University of Minnesota, it serves thousands of University students every day. Yet for many years, it has also been the site of a number of suicides as it lacks the protective barriers that could prevent these deeply tragic incidents."
These temporary measures, put in place since 2024, are now backed by legislation (SF 2148) that Dibble seeks to make permanent. The Senate Transportation Committee acknowledged the bill on a Wednesday, highlighting the necessity for enduring suicide prevention efforts. Following the testimony of suicide victims' family members and the representation from Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE), the urgency of the matter was underpinned. As a two-level bridge, it serves both the vehicular traffic beneath and, approximately 20,000 pedestrians and 7,000 bikers above, where insufficient barriers have made the bridge a frequent site for suicide attempts.
The financial backing for these preventative barriers would come from the Met Council for Transportation, fueled by the Metro-area sales tax. As written in the bill, the University of Minnesota is tasked to consult with individuals affected by suicide at the Washington Avenue bridge, along with organizations and experts in the field of suicide prevention, when undertaking the design of the project.
The late Senator Kari Dziedzic, who represented the area until her tragic passing in late 2024, held this bill in high regard as a priority, with Senator Dibble highlighting her relentless commitment to constituency welfare. "Senator Dziedzic never stopped working on this legislation, because she never stopped caring about her constituents. Now even though she is gone, her legacy continues thanks to this bill which will save lives," Sen. Dibble told Senate DFL. The bill currently awaits inclusion in a prospective omnibus transportation bill.
