New anti-suicide features to be installed on iconic Golden Gate bridge

The stunningly beautiful Golden Gate Bridge has been one of the deadliest landmarks in the country -- but local officials took new steps to change that this week.

On Thursday, lawmakers and other officials came together to commemorate the installation of new security features designed to deter a rash of suicides.

Authorities in San Francisco have discussed new measures to bolster suicide prevention on the Golden Gate Bridge for years.

The process launched this week will lead to the installation of 20-foot-wide, stainless steel nets that extend along both sides. They will eventually be built 20 feet below the bridge's walkway and 200 feet above the water's surface, according to KNTV.

Construction is to be performed largely at night in an effort to minimize traffic interruptions. The endeavor is expected to take about four years to complete and cost roughly $200 million, notes TIME.

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While that issue has been resolved, it is still not entirely understood why the Golden Gate Bridge draws so many people intent upon ending their lives.

Some have suggested that the beauty of the structure and ocean below appear to many to be a fitting place for the final act. Others point to the bridge's easy access and barrier that stands only four-feet high.

Intervention efforts by bridge patrol personnel have proven partly successful. In 2016 alone, they were able to prevent about 200 people from jumping.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, 39 people successfully committed suicide at the bridge in 2016.