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Florida International University pedestrian bridge collapse

Coordinates: 25°45′40″N 80°22′22″W / 25.7612°N 80.3728°W / 25.7612; -80.3728
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FIU-Sweetwater University City Bridge
Coordinates25°45′40″N 80°22′22″W / 25.7612°N 80.3728°W / 25.7612; -80.3728
CarriedPedestrian traffic
CrossedTamiami Trail
LocaleSweetwater, Florida, U.S.
Characteristics
Total length320 feet (98 m)
Longest span175 feet (53 m)
History
Engineering design byFIGG Bridge Engineers
Constructed byMunilla Construction Management
Construction cost$14.2 million
CollapsedMarch 15, 2018
Location
Map
Map
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750m
780yds
Collapse site
Collapse site

At approximately 1:30 p.m. EDT on March 15, 2018,[1] a 175-foot-long (53 m) section of a pedestrian bridge collapsed on the Tamiami Trail (U.S. Route 41).[2] The 320-foot-long (98 m) bridge was planned to connect the campus of Florida International University (FIU) in Miami-Dade County, Florida with Sweetwater, crossing six lanes of the Tamiami Trail just west of the intersection with Southwest 109th Avenue.[2] Erected only five days earlier on Saturday, March 10, it had not yet been opened to pedestrian traffic, and the school was on spring break at the time of collapse.[2] The section of the bridge that collapsed weighed 950 short tons (860 t) and fell onto several cars on the roadway below. The number of fatalities and injuries has not yet been determined.[2] At the time of the collapse the bridge was undergoing a stress test with multiple cars stopped at a traffic light under the span.[1][3][4] Eight cars are reported to have been crushed. At least one death has been reported.[5]

Bridge

The FIU–Sweetwater University City Bridge, located at the intersection of Tamiami Trail (Southwest 8th Street) and Southwest 109th Avenue, was planned to connect the FIU campus to residential neighborhoods in Sweetwater.[6] It was intended to improve pedestrian safety, as the busy intersection had been identified as a safety hazard and the site of fatal collisions.[7] The $14.2 million project was funded with a $19.4 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant from the United States Department of Transportation in 2013, along with state agencies.[8] The bridge itself cost $9 million to construct.[9]

The portion that collapsed was approximately the first half of the full span of a cable stayed bridge. [10] The central mast and ten cable stays had not yet been installed.

Construction on the bridge began in March 2016 and was scheduled to be completed in December 2018.[9][11] The bridge's prefabricated main span was assembled adjacent to the highway and constructed using Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC), a technique developed at the university.[2] It was lifted into place on the morning of March 10, 2018, five days before the collapse, during a weekend closure of the highway.[12][13] The ABC method was touted to "...significantly reduce the risk to workers, walkers, drivers and minimized traffic disruptions for construction."[2] It was installed by Munilla Construction Management.[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Svrluga, Susan; Siddiqui, Faiz (March 15, 2018). "New pedestrian bridge collapses at Florida International University, crushing eight cars driving underneath". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Viglucci, Andres; Madan, Monique O.; Hanks, Douglas; Chang, Daniel (March 15, 2018). "FIU pedestrian bridge collapses days after installation; police say multiple deaths, cars trapped". Miami Herald. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  3. ^ Batechelor, Amanda; Suarez, Carlos (March 15, 2018). "Several dead after newly-installed portion of FIU pedestrian bridge collapses". Local 10 News. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  4. ^ http://www.smobserved.com/story/2018/03/15/news/miami-bridge-collapse-when-crane-cable-snapped-stress-test-conducted-at-time-of-collapse/3368.html
  5. ^ CNN, Dakin Andone and Steve Almasy,. "At least one dead in pedestrian bridge collapse at university in Miami, authorities say". CNN. Retrieved March 15, 2018. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ Ashaboglu, Selin (March 15, 2018). "Miami Pedestrian Bridge Collapses". Architect Magazine. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  7. ^ Rodriguez, Marybel (August 22, 2017). "Pedestrian Bridge In The Works For FIU Students To Cross Busy 8th Street". CBS 4 Miami. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  8. ^ "FIU Pedestrian Bridge Construction Using Innovative Approach By Swinging Into Place". CBSLocal. WFOR-TV. March 10, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  9. ^ a b Harris, Alex (August 24, 2017). "A walking bridge for FIU students is coming soon. But it's too late for one student". Miami Herald. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  10. ^ http://www.mcm-us.com/news/mcm-awarded-fiu-pedestrian-bridge-project#.Wqr9ucPwY-U
  11. ^ Kiah, Clara-Meretan (March 30, 2016). "FIU, Sweetwater break ground for bridge to the future". Florida International University. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  12. ^ Viglucci, Andres (March 10, 2018). "'Instant' bridge aims to make a dangerous crossing safer for thousands of students". Miami Herald. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  13. ^ Madan, Monique O. (March 8, 2018). "If you plan to drive on SW Eighth Street this weekend, you'll be rerouted here". Miami Herald. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  14. ^ Zachary Fagenson (March 15, 2018). "Several killed, cars crushed in Florida foot bridge collapse". Reuters. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
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