TAOS — The New Mexico Department of Transportation closed the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge to pedestrians Monday in response to a recent surge in suicides at the structure, including the death of a Taos teen Saturday afternoon.

“NMDOT Cabinet Secretary Rick Serna [is] committed to closing the High Bridge to pedestrian traffic beginning Monday, Sept. 21 until a viable resolution can be found,” Taos County Sheriff Steve Miera said in a news release Sunday.

The pedestrian closure will remain in place until more suicide-prevention measures are identified, the department confirmed to The Taos News .

Miera, who has long called for the state to take action on such measures, had reached out to Serna to request the closure after deputies were called to the bridge Saturday in response to 911 calls r

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