PORT ANGELES — Construction of higher barriers on the two Eighth Street bridges is expected to start Monday and be finished on or about Sept. 7.
The Port Angeles City Council awarded a $770,000 contract to Interwest Construction, Inc. of Sequim, to install 8-foot, 9-inch suicide-barrier fences.
Eastbound traffic over both bridges will be closed to traffic throughout the project.
One lane for westbound traffic will be maintained over the bridges on Eighth Street between Cherry Street and A Street.
A sidewalk on one side of the bridges also will stay open to pedestrians.
Detour signs will be in place, with the speed limit reduced to 20 mph through the work zone, the city said.
Businesses will remain open during construction.
Four people have died by suicide from jumping off the 100-foot Eighth Street bridges over the Tumwater Truck Route and South Valley Street since June, and eight since the bridges were replaced and reopened in February 2009 with 4-foot, 6-inch railings.
