The firms that designed and constructed the now-collapsed ‘Instant Bridge’ linking the city of Sweetwater, Florida, with Florida International University over Southwest 8th Street, otherwise known as Tamiami Trail or U.S. Highway 41, were selected by FIU, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration, according to the FIU News in February of 2016.
Dr. Reid Castrodale, and engineering consultant based in Concord, North Carolina, is an advocate of accelerated bridge construction, otherwise known as ‘Instant Bridge.’ He told Charlotte WFAE that he does not believe it was the process that caused the collapse. Once the self-propelled modular transporters -- the machines that accomplished the engineering feat of swinging the assembled bridge into place -- drive away, the process is complete.
View from a camera on the bridge during the move on March 10, 2018https://t.co/VxDD2L71Ls
— Sandy (@SweetwaterPIO1) March 12, 2018
According to the Miami Herald’s reporting of the collapse, FDOT said it was a funding partner, acting as a pass through for the federal funding, and also providing $57,000 in state funding for the $16.5 million pedestrian walkway which was to open in 2019.
In 2016, Gus Pego, FDOT District Six Secretary, expressed:
“We are committed to working together with FIU to improve safety and connectivity for all pedestrians and students.”
The bridge was badly needed for pedestrian safety. In August 2017, FIU student Alexis Dale was killed crossing the busy thoroughfare. The day before the bridge collapsed, FIU News reported that university police were entering the final phase of their pedestrian safety program and would soon start issuing jaywalking fines that could be as high as $78. According to the report, 136 pedestrians, 34 bicyclists and 56 motorists recently received educational pamphlets and two pedestrians were issued written warnings. The pedestrian bridge was set to open in 2019.
In 2013, FIU was awarded an $11,397,120 TIGER grant. Miami-based contractor MCM Construction and Tallahassee-based Figg Bridge Design were selected to design and construct the pedestrian bridge, and have said in statements they are cooperating with investigators, which includes the FBI, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and others:
Chairman Sumwalt providing information during joint media availability for FIU bridge collapse pic.twitter.com/jjKDfsJ1sO
— NTSB_Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) March 16, 2018
Six people have been confirmed dead in the 950-ton bridge collapse. Ten people were taken to the hospital, said Detective Alvaro Zabaleta, a spokesman for the Miami-Dade Police Department, after a the rescue effort that involved four cranes, equipment and search teams with dogs, according to NBC News.
Families waited at the FIU Family Reunification Center to find out the fate of loved ones as the information is released from law enforcement officials, according to the Miami Herald. Sections of the collapsed bridge are being removed under ongoing investigation into the cause of the collapse.
