We use it every day without giving it a second thought, driving past the 988 signs. While some use it to get to the beach, or work, or a store, for many this is a solemn location — the Piscataqua River Bridge. 

Finished in 1971, the I-95 bridge is a recognizable landmark of the seacoast; its green arched trusses can be seen as far as Stratham, NH and York, ME. 

While it may be a fond landmark for some, the bridge is a graveyard for many people in the area. Over the past few years, suicides are forcing governments and states to take action, but not soon enough. Recently, in 2025, there were three suicides on Portsmouth bridges within a two-week span.

Action must be taken; our governments have the responsibility to protect their citizens. The solution to this crisis is simple: barriers must be installed on the bridge.

In the spring of 2025, a group of local leaders, including Portsmouth Mayor Deaglan McEachern, and New Hampshire Department of Transportation Commissioner, William Cass, gathered at Portsmouth City Hall to discuss the future of the bridge. 

All sides expressed concern about the recent suicides on the bridge. 

“It’s tragic it took a number of different incidents in quick succession to get this [meeting about suicide prevention on the bridge] going,”  McEachern said in a published Seacoast Online article by Ian Lenahan. 

While the I-95 Piscataqua River Bridge and Sarah Long Bridge have been the topic of discussion in recent months, the bridges have always had issues, largely due to their structural limitations. The Piscataqua River Bridge is 150 feet tall over the river and is only outfitted with only 4-foot-tall barriers.

Cost has been the major limiter of solutions for the bridge, with current estimates of $3 to $5 million dollars to install suicide prevention measures, like nets, according to recent estimates from the New Hampshire Department of Transportation. 

The bridge spans from New Hampshire to our neighbor, Maine, from Rockingham County in the south to York County in the north. Additionally, it is the only interstate highway access to Maine. Such facts make the state of Maine much more conservative in attempts to make changes to the span, for fear that any damage to the structure would prove disastrous socially and economically. 

With the bridge being such a vital link to Maine, concerns of suicide nets jeopardizing the structures integrity, Maine will want to be certain that the bridge will be structurally sound with the nets. 

Maine Department of Transportation Commissioner Joyce Taylor said in a Dec. 9, 2025, article in Seacoast Online, “The Piscataqua River Bridge is one of Maine’s most vital resources, and we understand the importance of evaluating suicide-prevention options.”

Our bridges are certainly not the first to take this step of barriers or netting to protect their communities. One example being the Penobscot Narrows Bridge in Stockton Springs, Maine, which has also considered counter-suicide measures in recent years, for a cost of $1.35 million dollars, a far cry from the estimates for the Interstate 95 Bridge. Even the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge received nets in January of 2024 at an astronomical cost of $224 million dollars, seeing a 50% reduction in suicides on the span.

There is certainly not just one course of action to prevent suicide, but action must be taken, and any solution must include a variety of sources, such as mental health support and resources, alongside physical barriers.

The Port Authority installed 988 suicide crisis helpline signs on the I-95 and Sarah Long bridges, and while these signs are a nice gesture, they are far from a solution. Simply put, they are not going to be enough.  

While the nets may be costly, their effect is proven; they save lives. 

Despite the potential high costs, this matter must remain a top priority for both governments involved. By all accounts, the process of finding a solution is moving far too slowly; barriers have the ability to stop suicide attempts altogether in certain locations. For example, in 2024, the French King Bridge in Erving and Gill, Massachusetts, saw a drop to 0% in suicide attempts after installing nets.

Even though the prospective costs are high, any change is plagued by issues, according to New Hampshire Department of Transportation Secretary William Cass, some issues are: long approaches to the bridge on the New Hampshire side, high winds, and fast currents in the river below, according to another Seacoast Online article published on Sept. 10, 2025.  It is the responsibility of New Hampshire and Maine government officials to maintain their commitment to solving this issue. Letting it fall into obscurity could prove grave consequences. 

If You Need Help

The National Alliance on Mental Health- New Hampshire offers the following resources to those in distress:

NH Rapid Response Access Point- Call/Text 1-833-710-6477- if you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health and/ or substance use crisis, you can call and speak to trained and caring staff. You’ll be served by compassionate providers from mental health centers in your community who can help you access vital resources in an emergency.

988- Suicide & Crisis Lifeline- Call or text 988 for 24/7 free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention, and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and the best practices for professionals. A chat option is also available at 988lifeline.org.