988 Signs

[Beltway]

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Well this is directly on topic here. I have seen these signs but there is too much traffic to stop for a photo.

[TheOneKEA]

I have seen these signs on other elevated bridges located in Maryland, such as the Kent Narrows bridge.

[Mapmikey]

There are similar signs on the VA 208 overpass of I-95. Not sure why...other overpasses around the region don't have them and that overpass is no higher than others.

The I-95 Rappahannock River bridge has them, though.

[Beltway]

There are similar signs on the VA 208 overpass of I-95. Not sure why...other overpasses around the region don't have them and that overpass is no higher than others.
The I-95 Rappahannock River bridge has them, though.

I have seen these signs on other elevated bridges located in Maryland, such as the Kent Narrows bridge.

Interesting -- I never had noticed those.

I just checked the suspension span on the westbound Bay Bridge on Google Maps and I don't see any.

[TheOneKEA]

There are similar signs on the VA 208 overpass of I-95. Not sure why...other overpasses around the region don't have them and that overpass is no higher than others.
The I-95 Rappahannock River bridge has them, though.

I have seen these signs on other elevated bridges located in Maryland, such as the Kent Narrows bridge.

Interesting -- I never had noticed those.

I just checked the suspension span on the westbound Bay Bridge on Google Maps and I don't see any.

I just checked the elevated concrete decked truss span portion of the eastbound span before the suspension span portion and they are present on both of the barrier walls, directly opposite one another, and just before the S-7 lane control marker gantry. They can also be found on the elevated concrete deck portion of the eastbound span in between the suspension span and the through truss span above the smaller navigation channel. I also checked the equivalent segments of the westbound span and found them there too, so I am very surprised that neither suspension span has any such signage.

[Beltway]

I just checked the elevated concrete decked truss span portion of the eastbound span before the suspension span portion and they are present on both of the barrier walls, directly opposite one another, and just before the S-7 lane control marker gantry. They can also be found on the elevated concrete deck portion of the eastbound span in between the suspension span and the through truss span above the smaller navigation channel. I also checked the equivalent segments of the westbound span and found them there too, so I am very surprised that neither suspension span has any such signage.

They have at least 3 miles of lethal heights and two bridges. That would take a lot of signs -- what every hundred yards or so?

[Revive 755]

[[Warning: this topic has not been posted in for at least 120 days.]]

Well this is directly on topic here. I have seen these signs but there is too much traffic to stop for a photo.

This perhaps warrants a spin-off topic?

* There's a similar sign for I-24 over the Ohio River.  WB Streetview; EB Streetview.

* There's also similar signs for the Dodge Street Bridge over the Iowa Interstate yard in Iowa City, IA.  Streetview

[74/171FAN]

Yeah, I was so tired I split off the thread and moved it twice.  I think it should be here rather than traffic control.

[Beltway]

I wanted that US-301 photo in the Nice-Middleton Bridge thread. That is why I put it there. No intent to make it into anything outside of that.

[kphoger]

I clicked on this topic and was disappointed to not see 987 more signs.

[Beltway]

I didn't even know before this thread that 988 is the nationwide crisis line phone number.

[WillWeaverRVA]

I didn't even know before this thread that 988 is the nationwide crisis line phone number.

It was a pretty big deal when it was rolled out because a lot of localities had to switch to 10-digit dialing because they had 988 telephone exchanges. It's still a great idea and I'm glad they did it.

[tman]

We have them in Omaha on the freeway overpasses over I-480:

Google maps

[Big John]

On I-43 in Green Bay: https://maps.app.goo.gl/cBH9H3ZvxxVGT8Xt5

[kphoger]

On I-43 in Green Bay: https://maps.app.goo.gl/cBH9H3ZvxxVGT8Xt5

What if the person doesn't choose to walk that far before hopping over?

[Big John]

On I-43 in Green Bay: https://maps.app.goo.gl/cBH9H3ZvxxVGT8Xt5

What if the person doesn't choose to walk that far before hopping over?

most suicide attempts occur there as that is the high point over the river. Likely parking their vehicles there.

[GaryA]

These are on the CA-118 freeway in Moorpark, CA (https://maps.app.goo.gl/qvscRZczPy9Ui7Q69).

Apparently they aren't enough, since there's a project underway to add barriers to the roadway edges.

[chrisg69911]

NJDOT put a whole bunch up in the past year and half or so
https://maps.app.goo.gl/5rzFagnAqVPxQB86A

[Beltway]

What if the person doesn't choose to walk that far before hopping over?

most suicide attempts occur there as that is the high point over the river. Likely parking their vehicles there.

But then some won't ever go to where the signs are, and won't see any.

[kphoger]

How many suicide jumps have these signs actually prevented?  If you've gotten to the point that you've walked out of your house and made the journey to the bridge, then haven't you already passed the point of talking to someone for help?  Like, do people not realize there's someone to talk to before that point, and only upon seeing the little sign on the side of the road to they finally realize?  (I don't mean to be insensitive.  Years ago, I once decided to commit suicide and actually walked out the door with a plan in mind.)  (I didn't do it.)

[formulanone]

How many suicide jumps have these signs actually prevented?  If you've gotten to the point that you've walked out of your house and made the journey to the bridge, then haven't you already passed the point of talking to someone for help?  Like, do people not realize there's someone to talk to before that point, and only upon seeing the little sign on the side of the road to they finally realize?  (I don't mean to be insensitive.  Years ago, I once decided to commit suicide and actually walked out the door with a plan in mind.)  (I didn't do it.)

I suppose the purpose is to give an option to someone before carrying out that ultimate task; the psychology of advertising is such that repeated visual or auditory mentions put an idea in one's head.

But some things cannot be knowingly measured nor counted, but that doesn't make them without value.

[Beltway]

How many suicide jumps have these signs actually prevented?  If you've gotten to the point that you've walked out of your house and made the journey to the bridge, then haven't you already passed the point of talking to someone for help?  Like, do people not realize there's someone to talk to before that point, and only upon seeing the little sign on the side of the road to they finally realize?  (I don't mean to be insensitive.  Years ago, I once decided to commit suicide and actually walked out the door with a plan in mind.)  (I didn't do it.)

They remind the person that help exists right now.

There actually are studies on this. A surprising number of suicide attempts are impulsive, with many people deciding within minutes. Crisis‑line signs and phones on bridges have been shown to reduce attempts at those sites -- in some cases by a third or more.

And the common assumption that "if they don't jump here, they'll just go somewhere else" isn't supported by the data. Follow‑ups with people who were stopped at bridges show that the vast majority never go on to die by suicide.

So even a small sign or a phone can matter more than we'd expect.

[RobbieL2415]

Putnam Bridge, Wethersfield, CT
https://maps.app.goo.gl/TLytBnqsNkU9uXJV8

Arrigoni Bridge, Middletown
https://maps.app.goo.gl/wfJD5T8nYo7ueqSB6

Oddly enough, the Gold Start Bridge, the highest in the state, does not have 988 signs.

The Bourne and Sagamore Bridges, Bourne, MA, have had these special call-for-help signs for as long as I can remember.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/JA8cQ6v42nQqiTMk6

[ModernDayWarrior]

I saw a Missouri 988 sign in what I thought was a very odd spot: the beginning of Missouri Route 128 in Grundy County. MO-128 is a short (1.2 mile long) road that dead-ends in Crowder State Park. I wonder if the park is a common spot for suicides.

20260301_180606 by ModernDayWarrior34, on Flickr

[kphoger]

Three signs for your enjoyment:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/gwnamMpB2Wa8zzaz7
https://maps.app.goo.gl/qL9gnvpdDeTmdWRt9
https://maps.app.goo.gl/9s1VR9YTqdFEeeUx6