Golden Gate Bridge suicide ring lawsuit settled for $97 million

Three years of litigation over delays in cost overruns for the physical suicide deterrence and wind retrofit project for San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge have come to an end with contractor Shimmick being awarded a $97 million settlement.

“The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District has amicably resolved its dispute with the Shimmick/Danny’s Joint Venture related to the construction of a suicide deterrent system and wind upgrades for the Golden Gate Bridge,” a statement to ENR said. “The settlement is an appropriate resolution of the numerous disputes surrounding the project and will allow both parties to focus on completing the remaining work.”

In accordance with the terms of the concluded settlement entered on October 31Shimmick will receive $97 million by the end of 2024 in reimbursement for costs incurred as part of the project. Additionally, the backlog of work will be reduced by approximately $6 million and the project completion date will be extended.

“We are pleased to resolve this matter in a constructive manner as this agreement represents an important step forward in our transformation plan,” Steve Richard, Shimmick CEO, said in a statement. After paying the subcontractors’ claims, Shimmick plans to use the remaining proceeds for ongoing operations, including completing the Golden Gate Bridge project.

The legal battle resulted from delays and cost overruns on the project. When Shimmick’s team won the contract in 2017, project costs were estimated at $142 million. In July, the bridge district pegged the project cost at $224 million, funded by federal and state grants, bridge tolls, Proposition 63 funds and donations. Shimmick said the total cost is closer to $398 million.

Litigation began in 2021, with steel supplier Vigor Works LLC suing the Shimmick and Danny’s Construction Co. joint venture. for $13 million. This suit was settled in 2023 and terms were not disclosed. In 2022, a joint venture sued the bridge district for almost $200 million, including approximately $56 million sought by subcontractors and suppliers.

The main dispute between the parties arose from Shimmick/Danny’s claims that the bridge management withheld information about the bridge’s condition and deterioration during the bidding process, which hindered the completion of the work on time and on budget.

The joint venture claimed in a court filing that it initially priced the work lower than it would have had it known about the span’s condition. Records show the joint venture was the lower of two bidders for the project, with a price tag of $142 million. The second bidder, American Bridge Co., offered $172 million. The bridge district opposed it Two changes in Shimmick’s ownership since the contract was awarded in early 2017 contributed to the delays.

The project includes a new barrier along the entire 2.7-mile span, consisting of marine-grade steel mesh 20 feet below and 20 feet from both sides of the bridge. Instead, some parts have a vertical fence or a combination of both. The project included replacing the “running” system under the bridge used for maintenance access and upgrading the wind installation.

The Bridge District commemorated the major installation of the network in the summer of 2024, noting that since its installation in early 2024, it has already saved lives by reducing the number of suicides on the Golden Gate Bridge. The design of the net was inspired by similar structures on tall buildings and bridges around the world, and the steel was deliberately designed to be painful to jump on and provide an added deterrent.

Over the past 20 years, an average of 30 suicides have been confirmed on the Golden Gate Bridge each year. In 2023, while the network was under construction, 14 suicides were confirmed, and in 2024 the number continued to decline.

“While the project is not yet complete, the network is already working to save lives by reducing suicides on the Golden Gate Bridge and keeping people from approaching the bridge to harm themselves,” the district said in a statement. “The net is a proven design that stops people from jumping, serves as a symbol of care and hope for distressed people, and offers people a second chance.”

Shimmick expects the on-site portion of the project to be substantially complete in the third quarter of 2025.

“We are extremely proud,” says Richards, “of the exceptional work our team has done on this challenging and important project.”