The Mijas Town Hall has reiterated its request to the Directorate-General for Roads (Carreteras), a body under the Spanish Government’s Ministry of Transport, for the complete enclosure of the elevated pedestrian footbridges over the A-7 as it passes through the municipality. The reason for this request is to prevent the risk of suicides following repeated incidents, the latest of which occurred on the 31st of March.
Among the proposed measures is an immediate and comprehensive technical assessment of all pedestrian footbridges on this stretch, specifically focusing on preventing people from jumping onto the carriageway. The Town hall is calling for the priority adoption of effective physical solutions, whether through full coverings or any other form of enclosure, raised barriers or structural protection that offers an equivalent and effective result.
- También se propone la implantación, mientras ejecutan las soluciones definitivas, de medidas provisionales de carácter inmediato que reduzcan el riesgo de suicidio.
- ALBERTO LAGO
It is also proposed that, while permanente solutions are processed and implemented, immediate provisional measures be put in place to tangibly reduce the current risk.
Prevention system
The Mijas Town Hall points out that as recently as 11th March, prior to the latest incident, it had already sent a formal letter to the State Roads Unit in Málaga. This was accompanied by a report from the Mijas Local Police, which expressly stated the need to implement a suicide prevention system by fully enclosing the elevated pedestrian bridges between junction 1014 and kilometre 1029 within the municipal boundaries.
- El motivo de esta petición es evitar el riesgo de suicidios ante la reiteración de episodios, el último acaecido el pasado 31 de marzo.
- ALBERTO LAGO
The report warned of repeated incidents of individuals throwing themselves from these structures, with fatal consequences for the individuals and their families. It also highlighted the added risk these acts pose to road safety, to drivers on the motorway, and to the operational effectiveness of emergency services.
The Mijas Town Hall emphasises that when a public infrastructure shows a repeated pattern of being used in this way, the response cannot be delayed, as “each new incident heightens public alarm, multiplies the suffering of the affected families, strains public emergency resources and exposes other drivers to additional risks”.
Necessary action
“Mijas cannot resign itself to these footbridges continuing to be the scene of further tragic episodes. Nor can it be accepted that infrastructure within the State Road Network remains without the protection measures that the reality of the facts so clearly demands. Acting now is not just advisable; it is necessary”, the Town Hall’s communication to the roads authority concludes.
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