New ‘Climb Deterrent Fencing’ Coming to Hudson Valley Bridges?

A bill has been reintroduced to the New York State Senate that would build "climb deterrent fencing" around multiple bridges in the Hudson Valley, New York region.

Lawmakers in New York have once again begun a push to try and build fencing around the five bridges in the Hudson Valley, hoping to help combat an ongoing public safety issue.

Suicide Attempts from Hudson Valley Bridges

Sadly, since 2007, there have been over 100 deaths and 43 suicide attempts from bridges controlled by the New York State Bridge Authority (NYSBA), according to New York Senator Pete Harckham.

To prevent as many tragedies as possible, Harckham, along with several other Hudson Valley lawmakers, has submitted a bill to the New York State Senate that would make it harder for someone to jump from a span.

Fencing Around Hudson Valley Bridges

Senate Bill S3053 was introduced to the New York State Senate in January and, if passed, would require climb deterrent fencing to be installed on five of the Mid-Hudson bridges that are currently maintained by the NYSBA.

The five NYSBA bridges include the Rip Van Winkle Bridge, Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge, Mid-Hudson Bridge, Newburgh-Beacon Bridge, and Bear Mountain Bridge.

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According to the bill, if it's passed, it would require the NYSBA to install climb-deterrent fencing, defined as "fencing designed for deterrence of climbing and preventing grip and footholds, equipped with certain features including but not limited to welded wire mesh panels, tightly spaced wires, and spike collars."

This isn't the first time Senator Harckham's office has highlighted the need for fencing. Back in May 2024, Harckham and several other Hudson Valley lawmakers sent a letter to the NYSBA to express their concern over the lack of concrete steps to install proven suicide prevention measures, like climb deterrent fencing.

One Hudson Valley Bridge at a Time

Thankfully, the bridge authority and lawmakers have agreed to work collaboratively to deter more tragedies, according to the Poughkeepsie Journal. Last week, Sen. Harkham announced that lawmakers are willing to "build fencing at one bridge at a time and avoid predicted toll increases related to the cost of the projects."

NYSBA spokesman Chris Steber told the Journal that the agency is "evaluating deterrent fencing and related safety improvements, particularly at the Bear Mountain Bridge."

Steber also said,

"As part of our ongoing efforts, NYSBA continues to evaluate and implement a comprehensive range of suicide prevention measures—including physical deterrents and enhanced mental health interventions—while maintaining a strong commitment to fiscal responsibility and the long-term stewardship of public resources."

 

All of the NYSBA bridges are equipped with Crisis helpline phones and signage that offer assistance to anyone in crisis.