OAK HARBOR, Wash. — Known for its breathtaking views, the Deception Pass Bridge has tragically become a frequent site for suicides. Now, a state senator with a personal connection to the bridge is working to change that.
Built 90 years ago, the bridge stands 180 feet above the water, linking Whidbey Island to the mainland. It’s a popular tourist attraction—but also a destination for those in crisis.
Sen. Ron Muzzall, a Republican from Oak Harbor, has deep family ties to the structure—his grandfather helped build it. While he once viewed it with pride, Muzzall says the growing number of suicide attempts has darkened its legacy.
“It doesn’t have the same beauty that it once had,” Muzzall said. “This has become a place for people to end their lives, not to find beauty and inspiration.”
Over the past few years, calls to first responders have doubled as Washington’s behavioral health crisis worsens. Typically, responders were dispatched to the bridge once or twice a month, but that rate has steadily increased. Since January 1, there have already been 17 suicide-related incidents, nearly half of last year’s total of 36.
Despite efforts from the local community—including painting rocks with positive messages and installing a 911 call phone—the tragedies have continued.
“For me, it’s heartbreaking,” said Muzzall. “It’s heartbreaking in so many ways.”
In the most recent legislative session, Muzzall secured $900,000 to begin the process of “suicide-proofing” the bridge. About $200,000 will fund a study to determine the most effective safety measures, while the remaining $700,000 will go toward engineering a solution.
This marks the first major state initiative to address suicide prevention at the bridge.
“We’re probably never going to stop it completely,” Muzzall admitted. “But if we can make it more difficult, make them have second thoughts, maybe they can get the help that they need.”
Muzzall, a former firefighter, also emphasized the emotional toll on first responders.
“If they find the body, it’s tragic. If they don’t, it’s more tragic because they feel like they let the family down,” he said.
Possible preventive measures include safety nets and barrier fencing, though any modifications must take into account the bridge’s age, structural capacity, and historical status.
“It’s a historic bridge and we don’t want to destroy the view of it, but I believe it can be done,” Muzzall said. “It’s just maybe going to take some out-of-the-box thinking.”
The mission is deeply personal for Muzzall—he’s lost two friends to suicide at Deception Pass.
“I don’t drive across here without thinking about the people that I know who decided to end their life here, and that’s extremely sad,” he said.
With funding secured for the initial phases, Muzzall hopes the bridge can once again reflect the beauty and inspiration it was meant to symbolize.
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