(Newser) – Seven decades after the idea was first hatched, work is beginning on a "suicide net" for the Golden Gate Bridge. One of the country's best-loved landmarks, the San Francisco spot is also a magnet for people seeking to end their lives. There were 40 deaths in 2016 alone, and about 200 thwarted tries, Time reports. A ceremony on Thursday officially kicks off the project that Rep. Nancy Pelosi calls "a suicide deterrent system that will save countless lives." The stainless steel net will hang 20 feet below the bridge, stretching 20 feet to either side. It won't be foolproof, but officials are hoping the net will serve as a deterrent to would-be jumpers when the $200 million project is completed in 2021. (Read more Golden Gate Bridge stories.)