UPDATED, 3:47 p.m., March 15: The Florida International University pedestrian bridge under construction on Southwest Eighth Street collapsed on Thursday afternoon, crushing cars and killing several people.
This is the scene at @FIU after bridge collapses. Police moving the media away “just in case the rest falls down.” pic.twitter.com/Vw2wZKraj1
— Monique O. Madan (@MoniqueOMadan) March 15, 2018
The collapse occurred at Southwest 109th Avenue and Eighth Street, according to multiple news reports. The Florida Highway Patrol confirmed there were multiple deaths, 7 News Miami reported.
Crews lowered the 174-foot, 950-ton section of bridge into position on Saturday using Accelerated Bridge Construction methods, a quicker construction process that is intended to reduce risks to workers, commuters and pedestrians. The street was reopened to traffic on Monday. Munilla Construction Management is building the 289-foot-long bridge, which was expected to be completed early next year. It was 109 feet tall and 32 feet wide, according to a press release.
FIGG Bridge Engineers designed the bridge. Barnhart Crane and Rigging operated the transporters that placed the bridge on its permanent supports.
In a news release, FIU said it was “shocked and saddened about the tragic events unfolding at the FIU-Sweetwater pedestrian bridge” and was still gathering information about the accident. MCM said in a statement on Twitter that the company “will conduct a full investigation to determine exactly what went wrong and we will cooperate with investigators on scene in every way.”
The $14 million bridge was also slated to connect to University Bridge Residences, a student rental development planned for the northwest corner of that intersection. [Local 10] — Amanda Rabines
This is a developing story.